Delhi: AAP leader Rajendra Gupta says, "Kartaar Singh Sarabha Airport in Ludhiana is fully ready. Ludhiana is a major economic hub where trade worth over ₹70,000 crore takes place, including imports and exports, and many people come from outside. More than 2,500 people want to use flights from there, which has been a longstanding issue that flights should operate from this airport. Ludhiana. Rajinder Gupta, Member of Parliament from Punjab, raised a significant issue during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, urging the government to expedite the operationalisation of the Shaheed-E-Azam Sardar Kartar Singh Sarabha Airport at Halwara, Ludhiana. He termed the project crucial for Punjab's industrial hub and the Malwa region. Gupta highlighted Ludhiana's economic importance, stating that the city contributes over Rs 72,000 crore to India's industrial output and hosts more than 1.5 lakh MSMEs—among the highest concentrations in the country. "Despite this enormous economic footprint, the region lacks a functional commercial airport, putting it at a disadvantage compared to hubs like Jaipur, Indore, Surat, Rajkot, and Coimbatore," he said. The MP stressed Punjab's urgent need for improved air connectivity, noting that the state is home to nearly 22 to 25 lakh NRIs. He said the new airport could handle over 2,500 passengers daily and operate 10 to 12 flights from day one, connecting Ludhiana to major cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad. Gupta added that operationalising Halwara airport would reduce travel time and costs for MSMEs, decongest Delhi and Chandigarh airports, cut fuel expenditure, lower carbon emissions, and create thousands of jobs in aviation, logistics, hospitality, and retail. He called airports economic multipliers, pointing out that districts with airports record GDP growth up to three times faster. Aligning the demand with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, Gupta acknowledged the government's push for regional connectivity under the UDAN scheme and highlighted the civil–military synergy possible at Halwara, one of India's largest Air Force stations.