From correspondents in Delhi, India, 09:00 PM IST

Former cricketer and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) parliamentarian Navjot Singh Sidhu Tuesday met Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel to voice his concern over the deteriorating state of the Raja Sansi International Airport at Amritsar from where some major airlines have withdrawn flights.

Sidhu said with airlines withdrawing international flights, the airport faced closure. In this connection, he urged Patel to release funds to acquire 40 acres of land for the airport's expansion.

Indian and foreign carriers have withdrawn some of their international services from Amritsar over the past few months following the economic downturn and mounting losses.

Sidhu also urged the minister to rationalise landing, parking and navigation charges at Amritsar airport, which according to him was too high. He demanded the charges be halved.

Raja Sansi is one of the 35 non-metro airports being upgraded. The government has sanctioned Rs.90 billion for the modernisation of these airports.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)