AMBALA (Satish Handa): 180 years old army base at Ambala was set up in 1842 when British government was ruling in India was in search of a place to control northern part in India and selected Sirhind (now in Punjab) although British army was then based at Karnal and Ambala and finally selected Ambala as Western command base. The famous Kharga Core command was then functioning in Bengal under the control of Lt. Gen. T.N. Raina and about two months prior to Indi-Pak war in 1971 was based at Ambala played an important role to keep an eye over the activities of both Pakistan and China birders and large number of army soldiers of Ambala based Kharga Core command sacrificed their lives while fighting against Pakistan and China.
Ambala is also an important air base in North having ultra modern fighter planes including ‘Rafel’ fighter aircrafts under Squardon Unit recently imported from France. Unit of Kharga 2 Core in Western Command at Ambala has been playing important role to face enemy from time to time in past years. One cannot deny the role of Kharga 2 core played during Indo-Pak war in 1971 in which Pakistan was divided into two parts with the birth of Bangladesh. And after the war ended in 1971 Kharga core was shifted to Chandimandir in Panchkula district. Later, in 1985 Kharga Core 2 was shifted to Ambala and successfully functioning till date.
The officers of both army and Indian Air Force in a meeting held last year decided to jointly fight in all operations as such defence power of Ambala army base has increased a lot. According to information after Balakot air strike movement of Pak fighter planes was seen. One can find photographs and statues of brave army men sacrificed their lives for the country seen on prominent roads and crossings respectively in cantonment area. There are several roads in the names of war heroes.
A Shahidi Park in several acres area on Delhi=Amritsar national highway at Ambala Cantt in the memory of those sacrificed their lives for the independence of our country is under construction to attract visitors from all over the country. The project is likely to be completed by the end of this year. This project of value worth crores of rupees will have swimming pool, Museum, 1000 seated capacity hall, children park, a shopping complex, fast food center, restaurant, spacious parking and a helipad within the complex.
