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This is an archive article published on November 5, 2010

Amritsar airport named after city founder Guru Ram Das

Residents of the ‘holy city’ got a Diwali gift from the Union government on Thursday as the latter accepted their long pending demand.

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Residents of the ‘holy city’ got a Diwali gift from the Union government on Thursday as the latter accepted their long pending demand to name the Rajasansi International Airport after the founder of the city and fourth Sikh Guru,Sri Guru Ram Das. A few other suggestions were Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport and Amritsar International Airport,but the Cabinet gave its nod to Sri Guru Ram Das International Airport.

The airport has been in the news for wrong reasons for some time as one airline after the other was suspending its operations from here.

Sunil Datt,Director,Airports Authority of India (AAI),Amritsar,said the name had been approved and he felt the Guru’s blessings would keep the airport afloat. “This is a very important airport for the entire region. We are looking ahead for its bright future,” he said.

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Amritsar Vikas Manch,a local NGO fighting for the “survival” of the airport,responded enthusiastically to the new name. “This is the perfect name for the airport as Guru Ram Das is the founder of this city,” said its president,Charanjit Singh Gumtala.

The AAI has spent over Rs 140 crore in the past to develop the modern airport,but the airlines operating from here gradually started wrapping up their services. Singapore Airlines was the first to suspend its operations,followed by Jet Airways. Air India diverted its direct Amritsar-London-Toronto flight to Delhi from November 1.

“This is a strategically important airport and is a boon for trade and commerce in the region.

Efforts must be made that the airport thrives,” said Gunbir Singh,Chairman,Confederation of Indian Industries (CII).

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