NEW DELHI, Nov 23: Strong pressure from the prime minister's office (PMO) has forced the planning commission to reconsider its opposition to IK Gujral's dream of an international airport at Amritsar. The planning commission gave its sanction to the Rs 105 crore project, complete with direct flights to Manchester, a fortnight ago.

The planning commission had earlier rejected the proposal and had, in fact, asked the ministry of civil aviation to prune its proposals for the ninth plan drastically. Ranjan Chatterjee, joint secretary in the ministry and chief of the Airports Authority of India,said, "the present clearance, however, is over and above the allocation for the ninth plan."

The planning commission gave an in-principle approval for the Amritsar project on November 5 via a letter from the planning commission advisor, NP Bagchi sanctioning Rs 75 crore initially and the rest later to the concerned joint secretary in the aviation ministry. The project has now been sent to the ministry of finance for approval for finding the necessary funds. This, apart from the impending fall of the Gujral government, of course, may ensure that the project never gets off the ground.

With Gujral pressing his claim, union minister for civil aviation CM Ibrahim has also been rooting for his pet project. The ministry of aviation has sanctioned an airport at Ajmer with the land provided free by the state government after the Airport Authority of India (AAI) turned down the project as "non-viable and non-profit making."The clearance for the Ajmer project came last month and land acquisitions for it is now in full swing. The initial estimate for the Ajmer airport -- 135 kilometers away from Jaipur airport -- is Rs 50 crore. Both the projects were pushed through even after the Airport Authority of India repeatedly issued guidelines stating, "any airport construction as a result of government directive should involve 100-per cent funding from the Centre."

Sources revealed that in the case of Amritsar airport, the existing runway will be relaid in order to accommodate 747 aircraft. Besides, it will be extended to 12,000 meters from the present 7,500 meters. A new terminal building will be made and a wing created for customs facilities. The prime minister also wants direct flights to and from Manchester and the proposal to the planning commission offers the rationale that there is no major airport in the north. It also states that the traffic to Punjab from the United Kingdom and the United States warrants the building of a new international airport.

In the case of the Ajmer airport, Ibrahim has been adamant about the construction stating before the board that the high traffic, especially of tourists, warranted a new airport. Besides, the state government has been "persuaded to give the land free for the airport" while the AAI will construct the terminal building and Airport Traffic Control (ATC). Other facilities will also be provided by the AAI.

Sources say that the project reports of the AAI on both the airports had ruled out the constructions since they did not fulfill any of the technical parameters. Even after this, the ministry insisted had since "there were no financial implications for the AAI, the opposition to the projects was not valid."According to senior ministry officials, all politicians connected with the Aviation Ministry are keen to "push through airports in their pocket buroughs".

They cite the example of former prime minister HD Deve Gowda who wanted airports constructed in Hassan, Gulbarga and Hubli.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.