*Ambala Cantonment Domestic Airport to be inaugurated soon, instructions issued to complete pending works at the earliest – Energy Minister Anil Vij*

*Airport ready for takeoff from Ambala, orders to complete security and technical works soon – Anil Vij*

*Connectivity and trade to get a boost from Ambala Airport, preparations underway for multiple routes including Ayodhya and Srinagar – Vij*

*Domestic airport to bring major benefits to the region, employment opportunities to increase – Vij*

*Ambala Cantonment to emerge as an air connectivity hub, plans for off-airport cargo terminal also underway – Vij*

Chandigarh, April 16 – Haryana’s Energy, Transport and Labour Minister, Sh. Anil Vij said that the domestic airport constructed at Ambala Cantonment will be inaugurated soon. In this regard, during a meeting held today with officers of the Haryana Civil Aviation Department, instructions were issued to complete the remaining minor works at the airport at the earliest.

*Technical team to visit Ambala Cantonment Airport – Vij*

While chairing the meeting, Sh. Vij directed officials to constitute a team of senior officers to inspect the airport so that technically pending works can be completed promptly. He instructed that CCTV installation, control room setup, security arrangements, online UPS, minor civil works and other office-related requirements be completed on priority. Directions were also issued regarding the availability of staff and vehicles. Additionally, Sh. Vij directed officials to establish an off-airport air terminal to facilitate cargo operations.

*Airport in Ambala Cantonment to boost trade activities – Vij*

The Minister said that Ambala Cantonment is a major junction, and the start of air services from here will greatly benefit people in surrounding areas and boost commercial activities. He said that apart from districts like Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar, Kaithal, Karnal and Panipat in Haryana, people from Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh will also benefit. He added that since the airport is located within the city, passengers will not face any inconvenience in commuting.

*Domestic airport to create direct and indirect employment opportunities – Vij*

Sh. Vij said there is significant enthusiasm among people regarding the proposed flight from Ambala to Ayodhya, and they are eagerly awaiting its launch. He further informed that a company is being assigned operations on the Ambala–Srinagar route, while various airlines have applied for routes such as Ambala–Lucknow, which are under consideration. He added that the operationalization of the airport will generate both direct and indirect employment opportunities in the region.

*Vij inspects domestic airport, issues necessary directions*

Prior to the meeting, Sh. Vij inspected the domestic airport at Ambala Cantonment and reviewed the progress with officials from PWD and the Airports Authority of India. Officials informed that the construction work has been completed. During the inspection, the Minister reviewed passenger facilities such as movement, food services, seating arrangements, vehicle parking and installed equipment including baggage scanners.

*Domestic airport built due to efforts of Energy Minister Anil Vij*

It is noteworthy that for the construction of this domestic airport, around 20 acres of land near the Ambala Cantonment Air Force Station was acquired from the Ministry of Defence at a cost of ₹133 crore. The airport infrastructure has been developed at a cost of approximately ₹18 crore, and necessary equipment has been installed.

*Passengers to benefit after airport becomes operational*

Given Ambala Cantonment’s importance, the launch of the domestic airport will increase the number of air travelers and strengthen regional connectivity. Airlines have already been granted permission to operate from the airport.

The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary of Civil Aviation, Smt. G. Anupama, Additional Director Sh. Manish Kumar Lohan, Project Director Group Captain A.S. Gill, Consultant (Planning) Sh. M.S. Duhan, along with other senior officials.

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*Relief after work slip investigation in Labour Department: IDs of valid workers to be activated soon, benefits of schemes to be provided – Labour Minister Anil Vij*

*Around 90% work slips found fake, genuine workers to get benefits, some with partially valid slips will need fresh registration – Anil Vij*

*Strict action on work slip irregularities, grievance committees to be formed in every district – Vij*

*Major decision amid ₹1500 crore suspected scam, eligible workers to receive pending benefits – Vij*

Chandigarh, April 16 — Haryana Labour Minister Sh. Anil Vij said that in the investigation into irregularities related to work slips (90-day work receipts) in the Haryana Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, IDs/portal will soon be activated for those workers whose work slips have been found valid, enabling them to avail benefits provided by the Board. He said that approvals/recommendations have been received on the proposal sent to the high-level committee constituted by the government.

Sh. Vij informed that a proposal in this regard was sent by him to the high-level committee constituted by the government, and the committee has granted its approval/recommendations. It is noteworthy that the high-level committee includes Director General of the Department of Science and Technology Sh. Rajiv Rattan, IG Ambala Sh. Pankaj Nain and Principal Secretary of the Architecture Department Sh. Pankaj Agarwal.

*Grievance committee to be formed at district level – Vij*

Sh. Vij said that as per the recommendations of the high-level committee, the Haryana Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board will constitute a grievance committee at the district level to address workers’ issues.

*Workers with some valid work slips will require fresh registration to avail benefits – Vij*

The Labour Minister said that the high-level committee has also recommended that workers who possess some valid work slips will have to undergo fresh registration. If, after verification, such workers are found eligible, they will be provided pending benefits as per their eligibility. Sh. Vij added that reports were received from committees constituted in 22 districts to investigate irregularities related to work slips (90-day work receipts), in which approximately 90 percent of the work slips were found to be fake.

Highlighting the seriousness of the issue, Sh.Vij noted that major irregularities in work slips under the Welfare Board had recently come to light due to vigilant oversight. Preliminary findings suggest that the scam could amount to approximately ₹1,500 crore. In view of the gravity of the matter, he had earlier requested the Chief Minister to initiate a thorough probe by a reputed investigation agency. Subsequently, the government directed the formation of a high-level committee to submit a comprehensive report on funds disbursed to fake workers.

*District-Level Verification Conducted Across the State*

Sh.Vij further said that initial investigations were conducted in Hisar, Kaithal, and Jind districts, where large-scale irregularities were detected. Following this, instructions were issued to Deputy Commissioners across all districts to form district-level committees comprising Labour Department officials and three additional officers by Labour Minister.

These committees carried out physical verification of online work slips, confirming that approximately 90% were fake, with only a small proportion found to be genuine.

Sh. Vij said that currently, an investigation has been conducted in 22 districts of the state covering a period of the last two years, whereas this scheme has been in operation since 2008 by the Haryana Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board. He said that the work slips of laborers who have availed benefits under the schemes running since 2008 can also be investigated. This suggests that the estimated scam amount of ₹1,500 crore for the current two-year period could increase further, potentially reaching thousands of crores. Sh. Vij added that action is also being considered to punish those found guilty in the investigation.

*“Those who are not eligible are availing benefits of the schemes” — Vij*

Sh. Vij said it has become clear that in many places in villages/cities were fraudulently registered and work slips were generated so that ineligible persons could avail benefits of government schemes. On average, a worker receives benefits worth around Rs.2.5 lakh under various schemes, which could result in a massive financial loss to the government. He said that “Those who are not eligible are availing benefits. This is outright loot, causing the government a financial loss running into hundreds of crores.”

*No compromise on corruption at any level; strict action against the guilty — Vij*

He added that Haryana Government implements several welfare schemes for construction workers, including maternity and paternity benefits, education assistance, scholarships, reimbursement for technical education, pensions, marriage assistance, medical aid, housing loans and accident compensation, aimed at empowering genuine workers. These benefits should reach only those workers who are duly registered after verification of at least 90 days of work. The Labour Minister reiterated that there will be no compromise on corruption at any level and strict action will be ensured against those found guilty.

*Various welfare schemes benefit construction workers – Vij*

Sh. Vij outlined the various benefits provided to registered construction workers in Haryana including Maternity benefit of Rs. 36,000, Paternity benefit of Rs. 21,000, Educational financial support for workers’ children ranging from Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 20,000 annually (from primary to higher education/PhD), Merit-based scholarships between Rs. 21,000 and Rs. 51,000 for children scoring 60% to 90% in 10th/12th exams, Reimbursement of full academic expenses for children pursuing professional or technical courses as per actual government expenses, Hostel facility aid up to Rs.1.2 lakh for children of workers in vocational institutes, Coaching assistance for vocational courses from Rs.20,000 to Rs.1 lakh, Incentive of Rs. 50,000 for registered workers’ daughters to purchase an electric scooter and Laptop grant of Rs. 49,000 under the CM Shram Yogi Pratibha Yojana.

Additionally, the other benefits, which are being given to the workers including Rs. 5,000 for bicycle purchase, Rs. 8,000 tool grant, Rs. 4,500 for a sewing machine, Rs. 5,100 under the CM Women Construction Worker Samman Scheme, under the Kanyadaan Yojana Rs.1,01,00 for the marriage of up to three daughters of registered workers, Rs. 50,000 for the self-marriage of a female worker, Full reimbursement of actual second-class train or regular bus fare for pilgrimages or visits to historical sites, Reimbursement of travel expenses for visiting one’s ancestral home, Medical assistance including wage compensation based on minimum wage, Financial assistance up to Rs.1 lakh for treatment of Chronic deseases, Disability support ranging from Rs. 1.5 lakh to Rs. 3 lakh, Disability pension of Rs.3,000/month, Rs. 3,000/month for children with disabilities, Old age pension (after age 60) of Rs.3,500/month, Family pension of Rs. 1,750/month, Widow pension of Rs. 3,000/month, Under the Mukymantri Shramik Samajik Suruksha Yojna Rs. 5,15,000 compensation for accidental death at the workplace, Rs. 1.5 to 3 lakh for disability at the workplace for unregistered workers and Rs. 4 lakh in case of death of an unregistered worker at the workplace.

He also said that Interest-free loan up to Rs. 2 lakh for house purchase/construction and Rs. 1,100 incentive under the Mukyamantri Panjikaran Protsahan Yojna. He clarified that to receive these benefits, workers must register with the labour board. Registration is granted only after verification that the worker has been worked for over 90 days.