Chief Minister seeks Central package for expansion of Kangra airport

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has requested the Central Government to provide special financial assistance for the expansion of the Kangra airport. He has written a letter to Union Minister for Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu to expedite various issues relating to the civil aviation sector in Himachal Pradesh as discussed with him during his recent visit to New Delhi. He also sought the resumption of daily flights on the Shimla-Dharamsala-Shimla route.

In a letter written to Naidu, the Chief Minister said that the state had to acquire around 150 hectares for the proposed expansion of the Kangra airport and the government had started the process. An award of more than Rs 1900 crore was ready and Rs 410 crore had already been disbursed, he added.

Sukhu said that as the statutory stipulated period of one year was ending in August this year, the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation should recommend this project to the Union Ministry of Finance and the Prime Minister’s Office for special Central assistance.

The Chief Minister also pointed out that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) should also review the techno-economic feasibility report of the Kangra airport prepared by M/s WAPCOS Ltd to arrive at a realistic assessment cost, as it was on the higher side. He also urged Naidu to explore other options like entering into a tripartite agreement with the AAI, state of Himachal Pradesh and a private partner for the expansion of the Kangra airport.

“The Kangra airport at present operates under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) requiring a minimum visibility of 5 km for flight operations. Special VFR operations should be introduced to reduce the minimum visibility criteria from existing 5 km to 2.5 km to ensure the operation of flights during reduced visibility conditions,” he wrote.

The Chief Minister said that the Kangra airport was the biggest and busiest airport in Himachal Pradesh, therefore, it should be equipped with night landing facilities. He sought the deployment of Himachal Police personnel instead of the CISF for airport security at the Kullu and Shimla airports on the analogy of the Kangra aiport. He also urged the Union Minister for extending the watch hours for flight operations at the Shimla airport from 1 pm to 4 pm, providing a larger window for the operation of flights.

The Chief Minister urged Naidu for operational authorisation for the Sanjauli, Rampur, Baddi and Kangnidhar heliports by October this year. He said that four additional heliports under the RCS UDAN Phase-2 were being sanctioned for the state at Jaskot in Hamirpur, Dehra in Kangra and one each in Una and Bilaspur districts for boosting air connectivity. He added that air operators like M/s Heritage Aviation, M/s Global Vectra and M/s Pawan Hans Ltd. would be directed to operate flights on their routes under the RCS UDAN Phase-2.

Himachal Tribune