Adampur airport renamed after Guru Ravidas as PM Modi inaugurates new terminals

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday renamed the Adampur airport in Jalandhar district as Sri Guru Ravidas Maharaj Ji Airport, fulfilling a long-standing demand from several political parties and social groups in Punjab. During a brief visit of around 10 minutes, the Prime Minister toured the airport terminal and reviewed models displayed in the lounge before addressing the gathering.

The renaming marks an important symbolic move for the Doaba region, where Guru Ravidas is deeply respected and revered. The decision has been welcomed by many residents and leaders who had been seeking this change for years.

Adampur airport renamed after Guru Ravidas

The decision to rename Adampur airport follows a promise made by Prime Minister Modi during a public rally in Hoshiarpur ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. At that time, he had assured supporters that the demand to rename the airport after Guru Ravidas would be fulfilled.

The demand itself is not new. In 2020, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, when the Congress government led by Captain Amarinder Singh was in power, passed a resolution asking the Centre to rename the airport. More recently, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann also raised the issue again before the Prime Minister’s visit.

The Adampur airport has been revamped at a cost of ₹125 crore under the UDAN 5.0 regional connectivity scheme. It serves the Doaba region of Punjab and is located close to the Jalandhar district headquarters. Spread over nearly 40 acres, the civil terminal operates using the airstrip of the Adampur Air Force Station.

At present, the airport handles two flights. One is a Star Air service connecting Nanded and Bengaluru via Hindon, while the other is an IndiGo flight to Mumbai. The airport resumed operations on March 31 last year after remaining closed for nearly four years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Earlier, the airport had flights connecting Delhi, Mumbai, and Jaipur. However, these routes were discontinued because of low passenger demand. Even now, travellers have raised concerns about the poor approach road to the airport. The 4.3-kilometre rural road leading to the terminal is narrow, and plans to widen it have been delayed due to land acquisition issues, according to officials.

Despite these challenges, the renaming of the airport is being seen as a step that could boost its visibility and emotional connect with people in the region. Many believe this could help improve passenger traffic in the future.

Halwara airport terminal and political reactions

Along with the renaming of Adampur airport, Prime Minister Modi also virtually inaugurated the newly constructed civil terminal at Halwara airport in Ludhiana district. The terminal has been built at a cost of around ₹54 crore by expanding the Halwara Air Force base.

The new terminal has the capacity to handle around 300 passengers at a time. A domestic flight to Delhi, operated by Air India, is expected to start in the first week of March. This is expected to significantly improve air connectivity for Ludhiana, a major industrial hub of Punjab.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, ministers of state Ravneet Singh Bittu and V Muraleedharan, and Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann. During the event, Mann renewed the demand to rename Halwara airport after freedom fighter Kartar Singh Sarabha, highlighting his role in India’s independence movement and his dream of becoming a pilot.

Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu supported this proposal and also urged the Centre to make the cargo terminal operational at the earliest. He pointed out that Ludhiana has a strong industrial base and better cargo facilities would help local industries grow further.

Speaking at Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Jalandhar later in the day, Prime Minister Modi said the new Halwara terminal would boost development in Ludhiana, Jalandhar, and Hoshiarpur. He said improved air connectivity would strengthen trade, industry, and employment opportunities in the region.

In a post on social media platform X, Modi said that better air connectivity for Ludhiana reflects the government’s commitment to supporting the city’s industrial and commercial importance.

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Although the facility is officially called Halwara Airport due to its proximity to the Indian Air Force base, the terminal is actually located in Aitiana village. Farmers from the area had donated around 162 acres of land for the project, a contribution that has been widely acknowledged.

The Prime Minister’s visit also triggered political reactions. Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring criticised what he described as the politicisation of deras, saying such religious institutions should be kept away from politics, especially ahead of the 2027 state assembly elections.

On the Halwara airport inauguration, Warring said the project was the result of efforts by multiple governments over the years. He pointed out that while the Prime Minister inaugurated the terminal, the land for the civil airport was acquired during the Congress government’s tenure.

Explaining his absence from the inauguration ceremony, Warring said that as the local MP, he expected a respectful and unconditional invitation. He said he was informed that he would not be allowed to speak, which he felt was inappropriate.

Despite his criticism, Warring said he was happy that a long-pending demand of his constituents had finally been met. He added that an MP represents nearly 20 lakh people and deserves respect and dignity, regardless of political differences.

Overall, the renaming of Adampur airport and the opening of the Halwara terminal mark key developments in Punjab’s aviation infrastructure. Supporters believe these steps will improve connectivity, support regional growth, and fulfil long-standing public demands.