The Punjab government has informed the High Court that a new shorter route to the Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, via the Sector 65-66 junction near Bawa White House, will be completed by December 2025. The Rs 1.25-billion project is designed as an alternative to the route proposed by the UT administration. However, it will not benefit airport travellers from Chandigarh, as the travel distance remains almost the same. The new route will be an 8.5 km road, 164 feet wide, running parallel to the Airport Road (PR-7). It will start from Bawa White House in Mohali’s Phase 9 Industrial Area. This road is being pitched as an alternative to the proposed UT route, although it will not significantly reduce the distance for travellers coming from Chandigarh. In addition, the Punjab government has also informed the court about the on-going upgrade of an 18-ft wide road from Jagatpura village, with 90% of the work already completed. This update was provided during the resumed hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the Mohali Industries Association (MIA) in 2015, addressing concerns about the lack of facilities at the airport. The Punjab government has opposed a direct link between Sector 48 and the airport, which would have reduced travel time from Chandigarh to the airport from 25 minutes to just 5 minutes. The proposal was initially supported by the Punjab government and the central government but was later revised in 2023. The Punjab government argues that the UT's proposed route would negatively affect airport expansion, as it cuts through land designated for future airport facilities and impacts the connectivity to areas reserved for maintenance and repair work. The proposed route also passes along the Indian Air Force Station’s boundary. News source: Hindustan TimesImage Source: Shutterstock