By IANS,
Chandigarh : With top leaders, business tycoons, Bollywood celebrities and other big-wigs flying in here in several chartered, personal and special planes for the most awaited India-Pakistan cricket World Cup match Wednesday, the Chandigarh airport is preparing to handle the high air traffic rush.A senior official said Tuesday that Chandigarh could be one of the busiest airports in the country Wednesday.
Airport authorities said their hands are full with over 50 chartered and private planes coming in between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m on the match day.
“Over 50 chartered planes are expected to land here tomorrow (Wednesday). We are planning to manage the air traffic in the best possible way,” said the official.
The crucial semifinal match will start at 2.30 p.m. in Mohali, 10 km from here, and will end around 11 p.m. Some of the dignitaries will return the same night.
“The airport director will give the permission for the take-offs during late hours. We have no problem with it and we can operate till late night,” an air traffic control (ATC) official told IANS here.
The Chandigarh ATC will be managed Wednesday by the Indian Air Force, which controls the airport.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, his wife Gursharan Kaur, Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, a number of central ministers, Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, Bollywood stars and celebrities are expected here for the big match.