Himachal Pradesh News
Shimla, Kullu Airport Runway Expansion Not Feasible, Centre Says; Kangra Project Awaits 370 Acres of Land
The Centre has ruled out the possibility of extending the runways at Shimla and Kullu airports, citing difficult terrain, limited land availability and other geographical constraints. At the same time, the proposed expansion of Kangra Airport continues to remain pending as the Himachal Pradesh Government is yet to transfer nearly 370 acres of land required for the project.
The Centre has ruled out the possibility of extending the runways at Shimla and Kullu airports, citing difficult terrain, limited land availability and other geographical constraints. At the same time, the proposed expansion of Kangra Airport continues to remain pending as the Himachal Pradesh Government is yet to transfer nearly 370 acres of land required for the project.
The information was shared by Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol in the Rajya Sabha while replying to a question raised by Himachal Pradesh MP Harsh Mahajan.
According to the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, the airports at Shimla, Kullu and Kangra face significant topographical challenges that restrict their expansion and future development.
Kangra Airport Expansion Awaits Land Transfer
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has already prepared a proposal for the expansion of Kangra Airport following a request from the Himachal Pradesh Government. However, the project is currently awaiting the transfer of 369.82 acres of land by the state government.
The proposed expansion is considered important for improving air connectivity to Kangra and the wider Himachal Pradesh region. However, the delay in handing over the required land has kept the project from moving forward.
No Runway Extension for Shimla and Kullu Airports
The Centre has made it clear that extending the existing runways at Shimla and Kullu-Bhuntar airports is not feasible under the present circumstances.
The government cited the challenging mountainous terrain, land limitations and other geographical factors as the key reasons behind the decision. These constraints make large-scale expansion of the existing airport infrastructure extremely difficult.
The decision is likely to impact future plans for increasing aircraft operations and expanding airport capacity at both destinations.
Current Air Connectivity from Himachal Pradesh Airports
The government also provided details of the existing air connectivity from major airports in the state.
- Shimla Airport: Delhi and Dharamsala
- Kangra Airport: Delhi, Jewar, Chandigarh and Shimla
- Kullu-Bhuntar Airport: Amritsar, Delhi and Jaipur
Despite the geographical challenges, the Centre said efforts are continuing to improve regional air connectivity in Himachal Pradesh.
40 Routes Operational Under UDAN Scheme
The Centre said that 40 routes have been operationalised in Himachal Pradesh under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN.
The scheme aims to improve air connectivity to smaller cities and regional destinations by making air travel more accessible and encouraging operations on underserved routes.
However, the government clarified that the introduction of new flights or an increase in flight frequency is ultimately dependent on the decisions of individual airlines.
Airlines Decide Flight Routes and Frequency
The Ministry of Civil Aviation said that India’s domestic aviation sector has remained fully deregulated since the repeal of the Air Corporations Act in 1994.
Under the current system, airlines are free to decide the routes they operate, the type of aircraft they deploy and the frequency of flights, subject to the government’s Route Dispersal Guidelines.
The Centre further clarified that airlines decide whether to launch or expand services from any airport based on operational and commercial viability.
This means that while the government can support regional connectivity through schemes such as UDAN and infrastructure development, the final decision on flight operations and frequency largely rests with airlines.
