Prime Minister Narendra Modi will formally inaugurate the newly built Chandigarh international airport at Mohali tomorrow.

International flights, however, are expected only by next month. That too on short routes -- Dubai, Bangkok among others -- to be operated by low cost airlines like Indigo and SpiceJet.

Airport authorities will need, at least a year to upgrade existing runway and operational facilities to operate larger aircraft like Boeing 747 or wide-bodied Airbus planes.

Once fully functional, the Chandigarh international airport is expected to cater to the international passengers from Punjab, a state that sees a heavy traffic of international fliers to the US, Canada, UK and Australia.