Ludhiana: The stage is set for a landmark shift in Punjab’s aviation landscape as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to virtually inaugurate the Halwara Airport terminal building at about 3.45pm on Sunday. But there’s mixed mood in the neighbouring village of Aitiana — where the terminal actually sits.The ceremony will host high-profile dignitaries, including Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and civil aviation minister K Rammohan Naidu, marking the completion of a project that has been decades in the making for the industrial heart of the state. Authorities have spent the last 48 hours giving “final touches” to the site. Despite a yellow alert for thunderstorms, officials are leaving nothing to chance.At the venue, a massive waterproof tent has been erected to accommodate an expected crowd of 2,000 attendees. Final paving of approach roads and security deployment were completed by Saturday evening. Dedicated high-speed links are in place to facilitate the Prime Minister’s virtual ribbon-cutting.A Village DividedWhile the airport promises regional prosperity, the mood in the neighbouring village of Aitiana — where the terminal actually sits — is a mix of hope and resentment. “Our residents will no longer have to trek to other cities to catch a flight,” said Diljeet Singh, husband of Aitiana Sarpanch Kulwinder Kaur. “With nearly half our population being NRIs, this is a massive convenience.”Where there are proponents, there are critics, too. Former Sarpanch Lakhvir Singh expressed bitterness over land compensation and naming rights. “Villagers were paid only Rs 20 lakh for each acre when the land was initially acquired, yet the govt is now paying more than Rs 81 lakh per acre for road widening,” he said. He further criticised the decision to name the facility “Halwara Airport” rather than “Aitiana Airport”, and alleged a lack of local job opportunities.The Name Game: A Brewing ConflictA significant point of contention remains the official naming of the facility. Local activists are demanding that the Prime Minister honour a legendary freedom fighter, Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha. Baldev Singh (Dev Sarabha) of Sarabha village stated that the state govt had already proposed naming the airport after Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha. “We want the PM to formally announce this name tomorrow. If not, we will be forced to agitate,” he warned the govt.Despite the naming dispute, real estate experts and local business owners in the Sarabha area anticipate a surge in property values and commercial growth as the airport moves toward full international operations.
