NEW DELHI, July 18 — Punjab Governor and Chandigarh UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria met Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu in the national capital on Friday, pressing for improved air connectivity from Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, Chandigarh.
Kataria raised growing public demand for enhanced flight operations—both domestic and international—from the Chandigarh airport, saying the facility plays a pivotal role for the people of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory.
“This airport isn’t just Chandigarh’s,” the Governor said during the meeting. “It serves the entire northern belt, especially Punjab and surrounding areas. Direct international connectivity will open up enormous opportunities for tourism, trade and employment.”
According to officials familiar with the discussion, Kataria stressed that boosting international links from Chandigarh would reduce the dependency on airports in Delhi and Amritsar. He also underlined the need for infrastructure upgrades to meet increasing passenger traffic.
In response, Civil Aviation Minister Naidu assured the Governor of the Centre’s willingness to work closely with stakeholders to explore viable options. “We will assess potential routes and coordinate with airlines and operators to improve services from Chandigarh,” he said.
The meeting is seen as a forward step toward expanding the airport’s domestic reach and establishing it as a competitive gateway to international destinations. Discussions also touched upon passenger amenities and the long-term vision for positioning Chandigarh airport as a regional aviation hub.
