Ambala Civil Airport awaiting security clearance, MP flags gaps

Ambala: The Union govt informed Parliament that development works at Ambala Civil Airport in Haryana were completed, and the airport is awaiting security clearance before commercial flight operations can begin. However, Ambala Lok Sabha MP Varun Chaudhary raised serious concerns over the pace, planning and clarity surrounding the project.Replying to an unstarred question (No 1073) of Ambala MP Varun Chaudhary in the Lok Sabha on Feb 5, 2026, the minister of state for civil aviation Murlidhar Mohol said Ambala Airport is owned by the Indian Air Force (IAF), with the government of Haryana developing a civil enclave. "The airport was identified under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme, with Rs 25 crore sanctioned for its development. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is responsible for operation and maintenance under an agreement signed on March 17, 2025.""Under UDAN 4.2, the Ambala–Srinagar–Ambala route was initially awarded to FlyBig for operations using a 19-seater aircraft, and later novated to Skyhop Aviation Private Limited. The airline is currently completing regulatory and operational requirements, after which flights are expected to commence, subject to the operational readiness of the airport," said the minister.Reacting to the reply, MP Varun Chaudhary said the govt's failure to clearly state whether the terminal building was constructed in accordance with prescribed airport regulatory norms raises serious doubts about preparedness and compliance. He also pointed out that the provision of only 1 apron bay for commercial aircraft, out of the IAF-owned apron, would adversely impact the functioning and scalability of the civil terminal.The MP further expressed concern that only a single route is currently in the pipeline, and even that route is yet to become operational due to pending regulatory and operational clearances. "With such slow progress, people of Ambala and surrounding districts will have to wait much longer to avail air connectivity," he said.Drawing a comparison with another Haryana airport, the Ambala MP cautioned that residents are anxious that Ambala Civil Airport should not meet the same fate as Hisar Airport, where the intended civil aviation use repeatedly changed — from a civil airport to a pilot training facility, then an aircraft parking site, and later a cargo handling facility. He said people are praying that Ambala Airport does not remain stuck in uncertainty despite years of announcements. Earlier, the govt clarified in its answer in Parliament that as Ambala Airport is a civil enclave within an IAF base, aerodrome licensing from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is not applicable. While infrastructure development is stated to be complete, security clearance remains the key pending step before flight operations can begin.MSID:: 128036231 413 |