PUNAJB SET TO TAKE OFF INTO BIG-TIME GLOBAL AVIATION
Delhi-Ludhiana Commercial Flights from MAY 13
CHANDIGARH MAY 6:
Ludhiana is all set to be air-connected with the rest of the country and would be just a hop away from global air-linkage as commercial flights from and to the country's original industrial hub will start from May 13.
A Punjab government spokesperson said here today that the Alliance Airline, a subsidiary of Air India will land its maiden flight at the Sahnewal domestic airport here on May 13. The spokesperson further said that Alliance Airlines would initially operate ATR-42 aircraft with seating capacity of 40 passengers on the Delhi-Ludhiana-Delhi route, which would be replaced by a bigger aircraft as passenger traffic picks up.
Initially, Alliance would fly every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. The incoming flights in the industrial city would take off from Delhi at 11.00 a.m. and touch the Sahnewal airport in an hour and fifteen minutes at 12.15 afternoon. The Delhi bound flight would depart at 12.35 afternoon and arrive in Delhi at 1350 ( 1.50 pm. )
Likewise, another flight i.e. Delhi-Ludhiana-Pathankot-Ludhiana-Delhi would also be made operational soon on every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The Ludhiana (Sahnewal) Airfield had been provided with the facility of night landing and advanced avionics would ensure smooth traffic throughout theeyar.
This Ludhiana domestic air-link project, conceived, pursued and brought to successful climax through vigorous political and administrative persistence of the Deputy Chief Minsiter Sukhbir Singh Badal , would still mark only the starting point of what he describes as "opening up of Punjab's sole life-line to economic growth and commercial vibrancy."
Mr. Badal, who met the central leaders several times to push for this and other civil aviation projects in his state, is on record having told the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan SIngh that domestic and global air-connectivity is "the only option available to decongest and un-stifle the economy of a land-locked Punjab." With per capita density of NRI populace in Punjab being among the highest in the country, the state is looking forward to the aviation sector as a major catalyst to development and growth. "
Not surprisingly, the Deputy Chief Minister was the first to welcome the development. He is likely to be on board for the maiden flight from Delhi on May 13. The enthusiasm in his response was understandable as he said, " The entire country has only 13 international airports, only 9 of which are with the Airport Authority of India.
If you leave out the Metropolitans , Delhi Mumbai, Kalkatta and Chenai, the rest of the country has only five 5 (five) AAI international airports. Punajb among the smallest states would have three of them, even as much larger states like UP , Madhya Pardesh, Rajsthan, Bihar and Orrisa have no international airport at all. Even Gujrat, touted as the most progressive of all states, has only one. This should put our achievement in true perspective" , he said in a statement welcoming the start of domestic flights from and to Ludhiana.
The new aviation destination was expected to give a fillip to the industry, trade and commercial activity in the region. The short sector is expected to witness hectic traffic in the months to come as most of the load of the Malwa and aprts of the north Doaba has to be redirected to Amritsar and Chandigarh airports.
With Ludhiana domestioc terminal becoming operational, the international travel potential of this region with connecting flights from Indira Gandhi Airport would also see a boost. And as the Shaeed Bhagat Singh International Airport at Mohali also speeding towards completion and international flights from there only a few moths away, Punjab will boast of air-traffic density at par with that seen in advanced countries like the with Ludhiana-Mohali forming one of the shortest sectors in the country.
The spokesman also said that the state government was in the process of handing over 7 acres of land to the Airport Authority of India (AAI) for upgradation of Ludhiana airfield i.e. 5 acres of land to be given for construction of Isolation Bay and 2 acres had been earmarked for providing Advanced Navigational facility i.e. Distance Very High-Frequency Omni-directional Range (DVOR). An award of nearly Rs.4.45 crore had been declared for acquisition of this land. The Ludhiana Airstrip has been strengthened and recarpetted at a cost of Rs 20 crore, he added.
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BHANDARI CALLS ON SUKHBIR – STRESSES ON RESTRUCTURING PLANNING PROCESS
Chandigarh, May 6:
The newly appointed Vice Chairman of Punjab State Planning Board, Prof. Rajinder Bhandari today made a courtesy call to Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister after assuming the office.
Prof. Bhandari expressing his happiness for this challenging opportunity to serve Punjab, also expressed his desire to restructure and upgrade of the existing Planning System prevalent in the Department.
Mr. Badal appreciated the views expressed by Prof. Bhandari and assured him full co-operation and support in taking initiatives for fast economic development in the State of Punjab.
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ROTATIONAL IRRIGATION PROGRAMME FOR RABI SEASON ANNOUNCED
Chandigarh, May 6:
The Irrigation Department, Punjab has announced the Rotational Programme for irrigation for the Khariff Season through Canal water from 11-5-2010 to 18-5-2010. The channels of Sirhind Canal System would run on the priority basis from Bist Doab, Sidhwan Branch, Bathinda Branch, Abohar Branch and Patiala feeder, respectively.
Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the irrigation department said that direct distributaries of Bhakra Main Line in group 'A' being in the channels of first preference will run to their indent and balance water supplies available will be utilized in Ghaggar Branch and its off taking channels i.e Ghaggar Branch and Patiala Minor in Group 'B' respectively.
The spokesman further said that all the direct distributaries of Sirhind Feeder in group 'A' being in the First preference will run to their indent and balance water supplies available would be utilised in Abohar Branch off-taking from Sirhind Feeder and its distributaries/Minors in Group 'B'.
The spokesman also said that the channels off taking from upper Bari Doab Canal i.e. Kasur Branch Lower with its distributaries being in the channels of first Preference would run to their indent and balance water would be supplies water available in Sabraon Branch, Lahore Branch, Main Branch Lower with their distributaries respectively.
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100.49 LAKH TONNES WHEAT PROCURED IN PUNJAB
Chandigarh, May 6:
Government agencies and private millers procured more than 100.49 lakh tonnes of wheat till last evening as compared to 103.76 lakh tones in previous year on the day.
Out of total procurement of 100.49 lakh tonnes of wheat in all the procurement centers of Punjab, Government agencies procured 100.04 lakh tonnes of wheat (99.6%) till date whereas private traders procured 44818 tonnes (0.4%) of wheat. Till May 5, PUNGRAIN had procured 16.65 lakh tonnes (16.6%) whereas MARKFED procured 23.32 lakh tonnes (23.2%). PUNSUP procured 22.52 lakh tonnes (22.4%), PSWC procured 11.09 lakh tonne (11.0%) whereas PAIC was able to procure 10.18 lakh tonnes (10.1%) of wheat.
The Central Government agency FCI had been able to procure 16.26 lakh tonnes (16.2%).
The spokesman added that District Ferozepur with 11.43 lakh tonnes of wheat procurement was leading in procurement operations whereas District Sangrur with 9.15 lakh tonnes at second slot and district Patiala with 8.18 lakh tonnes ranked at third position.
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MILKFED PROCURED 441.45 LAC KILOGRAMS OF MILK FROM 5620 SOCIETIES OF PUNJAB
Chandigarh, May 6:
Punjab State Co-operative Milk Producers Federation Limited (Milkfed) has procured 441.45 lac kilograms of Milk from 5620 societies of the State during the month of March, 2010. Stating this here today, a spokesman of Milkfed said that daily average milk procurement of the Milkfed was 1424.0 kilograms in Punjab.
The spokesman further said that Milkfed was also taking care of animals, specially milch animals. As many as 48539 sick animals were treated in Punjab through 130 First Aid Centres by 1711 Veterinary routes of Milkfed. He said that cattle feed, mineral mixture, lick brick and fodder seed was sold by the Milkfed to the tune of 7300 metric tonnes, 16705 kilograms, 325 and 94871 kilograms respectively to the milk producers. The Milkfed has also sold 52.5 metric tonnes of Ghee through Societies in the state, he added.
Punjab Government is committed to continue its efforts for the welfare of dairy farmers, so that they would get better remuneration of their milk, the spokesman added.
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