Can more trains be run, HC asks Railways

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 12

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked the Railway authorities to explore the feasibility of arranging extra coaches or running special trains between Chandigarh and Delhi from February 12 to 26 when the Chandigarh international airport would be shut for runway repair.

The query by the Division Bench of Justice Ajay Kumar Mittal and Justice Amit Rawal for preventing inconvenience to passengers travelling between the UT and the national capital for international and other flights came during the hearing of an ongoing petition on taking the Chandigarh international airport to new heights by improving the infrastructure, introducing better facilities and starting more flights. During the course of hearing, the Bench also impleaded the Railway authorities as party in the case. It has been asked to respond to the query by December 20. 

Appearing before the Bench, Assistant Attorney-General of India Chetan Mittal said the work of runway upgradation was on.

The airport authorities have already made it clear that no civil and military flight will operate from Chandigarh following runway resurfacing work by the Indian Air Force from February 12 to 26, 2018. 

Mohali Industries Association had earlier moved the High Court seeking directions to the Union of India to submit a status report on re-carpeting and upgradation of the runway. The developments took place during the hearing of a petition filed by association against non-operation of the Chandigarh international airport.