Flights from Chandigarh to Dubai, Bangkok soon: Punjab govt

The Civil Aviation Ministry has given its nod to start of international flights from Chandigarh to Dubai and Bangkok soon, Punjab government said today said.
The Centre also gave the nod for setting up of an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Punjab's Doaba region somewhere near Jalandhar and develop Amritsar as a 'Smart City' under its ambitious programme to refurbish the country's major cities on modern lines, a Punjab government statement said.
It said the decision to start international flights from Chandigarh was taken by Civil Aviation Minister Gajapathi Raju Pusapati and conveyed to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during a meeting here today.

Badal thanked Raju thanked Pusapati for giving the clearance for commencement of international flights from Chandigarh, said the statement.
The Civil Aviation Minister apprised Badal that Indigo, Spice Jet and UAE Airlines have been given permission to operate international flights from Chandigarh to Dubai and Bangkok in near future and hoped it would cater to major rush from the northern states, the statement added.
Badal met Union Ministers for Urban Development, Health, Education and Civil Aviation M Venkaiah Naidu, Harsh Vardhan, Smriti Irani and Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati and raised the issues pertaining to his state.

Badal raised with them a host of issues concerning Punjab including start of international flights from Chandigarh setting up of an AIIMS in Jalandhar and extend Eastern Freight Corridor from Ludhiana to Amritsar (Attari Border), said the statement.

Badal said the state government would provide 200 acres free of cost to the Centre for setting up the AIIMS.
Badal also sought the intervention of HRD Minister Smriti Zubin Irani to establish an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) and a world-class central university at Amritsar for offering opportunities of higher education to Punjabi youth, according to the statement.