Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Chandigarh airport on Friday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a new terminal at the Chandigarh international airport at Mohali this morning.
International flights, however, are expected only by next month. That too on short routes -- Dubai, Bangkok among others -- to be operated by low-cost airlines like Indigo and SpiceJet.
Airport authorities will need at least a year to upgrade existing runway and operational facilities to operate larger aircraft like Boeing 747 or wide-bodied Airbus planes.
Once fully functional, the Chandigarh international airport is expected to cater to the international passengers from Punjab, a state that sees a heavy traffic of international fliers to the US, Canada, UK and Australia.
Right now, the Delhi international airport caters to this traffic but it could change if international airlines choose to fly directly from Chandigarh once the operational facilities of the new international airport are upgraded.
The new airport has been developed at a cost of Rs 939 crore by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and is spread over 300 acres. It will have 48 check-in counters, 4 conveyor belts and a capacity to accommodate 1,600 passengers at any given time.
Compared to most airports that are energy guzzlers, the new glass and steel airport is expected to be energy efficient, with its double insulated roofing to keep the terminal cool, energy efficient chiller and a water harvesting plant.