CM Seeks Special Central Assistance for Expansion of Kangra Airport and Improvement of Air Connectivity in Himachal
Shimla, July 24:
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has requested special assistance from the Central Government to enhance air connectivity and expand aviation infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh. In a letter to Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, the Chief Minister urged swift action on several critical issues, including the expansion of Kangra Airport and the resumption of regular flights between Shimla and Dharamshala.
The Chief Minister informed the Union Minister that the state government is in the process of acquiring nearly 150 hectares of land for the expansion of Kangra Airport. The total cost of the project exceeds ₹1,900 crore, of which ₹410 crore has already been released. He requested that the Ministry of Finance and the Prime Minister’s Office be urged to consider special central funding for this vital project.
Sukhu also mentioned that the Techno-Economic Feasibility Report (TEFR) prepared by WAPCOS Ltd. for the project appears to have overstated the cost estimates. He recommended that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) conduct a detailed review of the report and also suggested exploring the possibility of a tripartite agreement involving AAI, the state government, and a private partner for project execution.
To further improve operations, the Chief Minister called for the provision of night landing facilities at Kangra Airport and a revision in minimum visibility requirements under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), reducing it from the current 5 km to 2.5 km. He also proposed extending operational hours at Shimla Airport from the current cutoff of 1 PM to 4 PM, along with the development of a second apron to facilitate the operation of ATR 42/600 aircraft.
The Chief Minister urged the resumption of regular Alliance Air flights on the Shimla-Dharamshala route. He also requested the deployment of Himachal Pradesh Police for airport security at Kullu and Shimla airports, in place of CISF, similar to the arrangement at Kangra Airport.
Additionally, he sought approval to operationalize the Sanjauli, Rampur, Baddi, and Kagnidhar heliports by October 2025.
Under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) regional connectivity scheme, Sukhu requested support for the development of new heliports at Jaskot, Dehra, Una, and Bilaspur, and called for aviation operators such as Heritage Aviation, Global Vectra, and Pawan Hans to be encouraged to commence services in Himachal Pradesh.
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