Inauguration Of Halwara Airport Expected Soon- Mp Arora Unveils Industrial Roadmap For Punjab, Major Boost For Ludhiana

May16,2025 | Gautam Jalandhari | Ludhiana

Industry leaders praise Arora’s efforts in unveiling the industrial roadmap and for sharing the latest developments concerning Halwara Airport
Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora, addressing a press conference at Circuit House here on Friday, unveiled a detailed roadmap for the industrial sector in Punjab for the year 2025–26, with a significant focus on Ludhiana’s growth and infrastructure.
Arora announced that to address land availability, PSIEC will collate land banks for the development of new industrial focal points. Regular auctions of industrial plots will also be resumed, providing a much-needed opportunity for Ludhiana’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to expand and grow. He assured that farmers affected by land acquisition will be duly compensated.

He said the Department of Industries is also working on ensuring that Right to Business approvals and other Government-to-Business (G2B) services are delivered within fixed timelines, aiding quicker establishment of new enterprises in Ludhiana — a city recognized as the industrial capital of Punjab.

Further, he said a sum of Rs 250 crore has been earmarked for the disbursement of industrial incentives during the current financial year. Stressing the importance of timely support to businesses, he said that fast and efficient disbursal of incentives would be ensured. Ludhiana, being Punjab’s key industrial hub, accounts for over 50% of the total incentive disbursal.

Highlighting a major push towards green energy, MP Arora said the government has approved a capital subsidy of Rs 60 crore to support industries in converting existing boilers to paddy straw-fuel-enabled boilers. Ludhiana, which houses nearly 20% of Punjab's boilers, is expected to be a major beneficiary of this eco-friendly initiative.

Further, in a bid to revamp industrial infrastructure, Arora announced that all industrial focal points will be upgraded to meet essential benchmarks — including proper roads, streetlights, water supply, sewerage systems, green parks, and cleanliness. Out of the existing focal points, 26 are managed by PSIEC and approximately 33 by Local Government Bodies. PSIEC alone plans to invest over Rs 100 crore for upgrading its focal points. Ludhiana is slated to benefit from upgrades in Focal Points from Phase I to VIII, Cycle Valley, Raikot, and Tajpur.

Arora said the government has notified a one-time settlement (OTS) policy for plot allottees who defaulted on principal payments or enhancement amounts. The policy, which allows settlement at 8% simple interest, is expected to provide a historical relief of around Rs 400 crore.

Further, new policies for clubbing and de-clubbing of PSIEC plots are being formulated, along with an appellate mechanism for cancelled plots — a move that is set to benefit Ludhiana’s plot owners and industrial developers. He hoped that an announcement to this effect is expected by Monday.

Addressing concerns related to payment delays for MSMEs, Arora informed that the government is in the process of implementing an Online Dispute Redressal Mechanism. This platform will enable Ludhiana’s industrialists to participate in hearings online and submit documents digitally, significantly reducing procedural delays. Since March 2022, a total of 1,145 cases involving Rs 19.24 crore have already been resolved under the MSME delayed payment framework.

He concluded by reiterating the government’s commitment to industrial growth, stating that the roadmap is not just a vision but a time-bound action plan to ensure that Ludhiana remains at the forefront of Punjab’s industrial transformation.

Regarding a significant development related to Halwara Airport, Arora stated that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) Corporate Headquarters has sent an official email to its local authorities on Thursday regarding the inauguration of Halwara Airport. As per the communication, the inauguration is expected to take place shortly, with the event likely to be presided over by a VIP or VVIP. The message also directed local authorities to initiate preparations and arrange necessary materials for the event.

Arora emphasized that the message clearly indicates the airport is on the verge of inauguration, after which it will become operational. He said the message thus clearly indicates that the AAI is expected to take over the airport from the Public Works Department (PWD) in the near future.

This marks a major milestone for Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s dream project, which is now set to become a reality soon.

Upkar Singh Ahuja (CICU), Rahul Ahuja (Apex Chamber of Commerce and Industry Punjab), Harsimerjit Singh Lucky (UCPMA) and Avtar Singh Bhogal were among those present on the occasion. They praised Arora’s efforts in unveiling the industrial roadmap and for sharing the latest developments concerning Halwara Airport.