A lot of stress and frustration is heading towards those flyers intending to jet into and out of Chandigarh airport. The state's international airport has gone in for a 20-day shutdown starting today. The airport will be closed till May 31. There will be no flights operating during this period. It comes as a major issue, as the airport will be closed for more than three weeks starting from Saturday and that too during the summer holiday season rush. 

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

Now passengers will have to find other travel sources in the region. Airlines will face issues as their operations will not be allowed during this time. The reason for shut down is because of second phase runway repair and extension.  A spokesman of the Chandigarh International Airport Limited (CHIAL) said, "After the completion of the second phase of runway re-carpeting/repair work, the runway length will increase to 10,400 feet from earlier 7,200 feet. This upgradation would facilitate long haul flights from Chandigarh to destinations like USA, Canada, Europe, UK and other places". 

But because of the closure of Chandigarh airport, services like those of Ola cabs are set get a big boost and the company is looking to take full advantage. Also Indian Railways is upping its services too with Shatabdi Express. Check out how: 

Morning Shatabdi

Many citizen in the state have been demanding an extra coach with morning Shatabdi which leaves for Delhi. However the local authorities have turned down the demand, stating that, adding an extra coach to the train is not possible as the train makes its run from Kalka station. Station Superintendent TP Singh said they couldn’t make a provision for extra coach with the morning Shatabdi. However, in the wake of the closure of Chandigarh Airport, the local station has provided an additional air-conditioned coach with the afternoon Shatabdi (12045 and 12046) from May 12 to 31, reported in Tribune India. 

Special taxi fare 

Due to 20-days Chandigarh airport will remain in shutdown mode, app-based taxi service provider OLA has announced a special discount code. 

A traveler using a code titled as ‘OLACD’ can take one-way rides from Chandigarh to Delhi starting at a special fare of Rs 2,399. There is another code dubbed as  OLACL which let’s a customer travel from Chandigarh to Ludhiana at a starting fare of Rs 799. 

Apart from this, a customers can also book round trip (Chandigarh-New Delhi-Chandigarh) at just Rs 9/km, Rs 10/km and Rs 13/km for Ola Mini, Prime Sedan and Prime SUV, respectively. 

Also there is an option to schedule their ride seven days in advance or choose to book it just an hour prior to the trip.