PM Modi renames Adampur airport after Guru Ravidas, inaugurates Halwara civil terminal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday renamed the Adampur airport as Shri Guru Ravidass Maharaj Ji Airport, Adampur , honouring the 15th-century saint and social reformer known for his teachings on equality, compassion and human dignity. He also virtually inaugurated the civil terminal building at Halwara airport in Ludhiana, marking a key step in strengthening Punjab’s aviation infrastructure.

Modi arrived at the Adampur airport around 3.45 pm and later visited Dera Sachkhand Ballan on the occasion of the 649th birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas , a prominent Bhakti movement saint who challenged caste discrimination and envisioned a just and egalitarian society.

The civil terminal at Halwara airport , developed at the Indian Air Force base in the Raikot subdivision , is expected to e nhance regional air connectivity and spur industrial and economic growth in and around Ludhiana. The terminal project has been implemented as a joint venture between the Punjab government and the Airports Authority of India at a cost of ₹54.67 crore . Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu , Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann , Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu and other dignitaries were present during the inauguration.

Addressing the inauguration, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann reiterated his demand that Halwara International Airport be named after legendary freedom fighter Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha, calling it a fitting tribute to one of India’s youngest martyrs. Mann highlighted that Sarabha laid down his life at the age of 19 and inspired revolutionaries including Shaheed Bhagat Singh. He raised the issue in the presence of the Union Civil Aviation Minister during the virtual ceremony.

Mann also appealed to the Centre to strengthen international connectivity from Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, Mohali , stressing that improved air links are crucial for Punjab’s economic growth . He said Punjab is the land of Gurus and martyrs , and the state government is committed to preserving its spiritual and revolutionary heritage . The Chief Minister noted that soon all four airports in Punjab would be named after revered Gurus and martyrs: Sri Guru Ramdass International Airport in Amritsar, Sri Guru Ravidas Maharaj Ji Airport in Adampur, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Airport in Mohali, and the proposed Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha Airport at Halwara.

Congratulating the people on the Parkash Purab of Guru Ravidas , Mann said it was a matter of pride that Adampur Airport has been named after the great saint and social reformer. Highlighting the strategic importance of Halwara Airport , he thanked the Indian Armed Forces for their contribution in developing the terminal and recalled that the Punjab Vidhan Sabha had unanimously passed a resolution on March 22, 2023 , urging the Centre to name the Halwara airport after Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said the renaming of the Adampur airport reflects the nation’s respect for the revered saint, whose teachings continue to inspire India’s social ethos by promoting equality, compassion and human dignity.