Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh , December 6

Residents of the City Beautiful will have an opportunity to see the MIG-21 fighter aircraft grounded by the Indian Air Force (IAF) as the Air Force authorities have agreed to provide one for permanent display at Sector 31. Besides that, the Air Force will also provide one MI 17 helicopter for display.

Chandigarh Mayor Devesh Moudgil said he had requested the Air Force authorities to allot a fighter plane to the city a year ago. With his constant efforts the IAF agreed to give a MIG-21 fighter aircraft and one helicopter for installation in the city.

“The place for displaying the MIG 21 has been finalised. The grounded aircraft will be installed at the Japanese Garden in Sector 31. The place for helicopter will be decided later,” he added.

“While the necessarily expenditure for the installation of the plane will be borne by the Municipal Corporation, the Air Force will maintain it in future,” he said.

“A team of IAF technicians will come for the installation. Displaying of an aircraft will make people of the city proud of the IAF,” he added.

“Chandigarh has long association with the Air Force. The city has a training school, 12 Wing and 3 BRD Station,” he added. “The display will encourage more and more youth to join Air Force and other defence services,” the Mayor said.

The tricity already has a tank displayed at Leisure Valley in Sector 10 and twin tanks at the entrance of the Chandimandir Cantonment in Panchkula. One decommissioned Air Force helicopter has also been displayed on the Punjab Engineering College (PEC) campus in Sector 12.