Gaggal airport expansion, flights to Ahmedabad, Mumbai sought

The Airport Advisory Committee has pressed for expediting the much-needed upgrade of the Gaggal airport to accommodate larger aircraft, ensure safer operations in all weather conditions and enable night-time take off and landing. The committee has also recommended initiating direct flight services to Ahmedabad and Mumbai.

Kangra MP and committee chairman Rajiv Bhardwaj, while presiding over a meeting, said that the Union Government had cleared the airport expansion project and the land acquisition process was underway at the district collectorate level.

Bhardwaj said that the existing runway constraints were limiting air traffic and affecting tourist inflow into the region, especially during the peak season. “The upgrade will enable the airport to handle larger aircraft, significantly increasing passenger capacity. This will give a major boost to the local economy, particularly the tourism sector,” he added.

To extend the runway to 3,010 metres, the Airports Authority of India has requested the Himachal Pradesh Government for additional 369.82 acres. As per the National Civil Aviation Policy, 2016, the state government was required to provide land free of cost and free from encumbrances. However, the transfer was still pending.

He stressed the demand for connecting flights to Ahmedabad and Mumbai, noting that around 18 per cent of tourists visiting the region come from Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Shahpur MLA Kewal Singh Pathania, who is a member of the committee, said that all land acquisition and environmental concerns, including fair compensation for displaced farmers and efforts to minimise ecological impact, would be addressed. “The state government will take necessary steps to support the airport’s expansion,” he added.

Himachal Tribune