Chandigarh, November 2: The Punjab and Haryana High Court today minced no words to say that crores of rupees collected from taxpayers were spent and land taken from owners, yet facilities for international flights were lacking at the Chandigarh airport. The Bench also asked for the reasons behind grounding the Bangkok flight.
As the case came up for resumed hearing, the Bench of Chief Justice Krishna Murari and Justice Arun Palli asserted the project was of great significance for the people of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Chandigarh. However, the people were compelled to spend time and money on travelling extra distances in the absence of facilities for international flights. The Bench, during the course of the hearing, made it clear that the issue was not just of the Bangkok flight, but convenience of the public.
Complying with the directions issued on the previous date of hearing, Air India’s executive director appeared before the Bench for clarifying the status of the Chandigarh-Bangkok flight. The Bench asserted all was well till June before the flight was suspended for Haj. When time came to resume the flight, it was stated that it was not financially viable.
The Bench then asked the executive director to submit a fresh affidavit explaining the reasons behind suspending the flight. Directions were also issued to furnish details of viable flights and schemes. The Bench also asked the officer to try to assist the court on the next date of hearing as well. The officer, in turn, gave details of the losses incurred.
The Bench also asked the airlines to put their heads together within two weeks for making the airport fully functional. The Bench, in fact, asked all stakeholders to come forward to ensure that the airport was fully functional for national and international flights by April 1 next. The Bench made it clear to the airport authorities that the meeting was required to be held under amicus curiae or the friend of the court ML Sarin before submitting a status report on the developments.
Source Tribune India
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