Chandigarh, Oct 8: Despite being one of North India’s busiest airports, the Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, Chandigarh, has been operating without Wi-Fi for nearly three years. The facility, which caters to around 10,000 passengers daily and handles 52 flights — including two international ones to Abu Dhabi and Dubai — has remained without a functioning internet connection since November 2022.
According to officials, the trouble began when the airport’s contract with its previous service provider, Three Vee Marketing Private Limited, expired in 2022. Since then, the airport authorities have failed to finalize a new vendor, leaving passengers in a digital dead zone.
Regular flyers and visitors have repeatedly voiced frustration over the lack of Wi-Fi, calling it a major inconvenience, especially for those on business trips or long layovers. “It’s surprising that an international airport like Chandigarh doesn’t have Wi-Fi. Even smaller airports offer basic connectivity,” said a passenger traveling to Dubai.
Airport sources said that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had floated tenders multiple times, but the process has been delayed due to administrative hurdles and lack of suitable bidders. “The issue is under consideration. Efforts are being made to restore Wi-Fi services soon,” an official said.
The absence of internet connectivity has also affected digital services within the terminal, including app-based taxi bookings, digital boarding passes, and access to real-time flight information.
Meanwhile, passengers have urged the authorities to treat the issue as a priority. “In today’s world, no Wi-Fi at an airport is unacceptable. It’s basic infrastructure,” said another traveler.
Until a new service provider is finalized, Chandigarh’s airport remains ironically disconnected — a “digital dead zone” in a city known as one of India’s first smart cities
