Kangra Airport expansion feasibility report to be finalised in two months: Naidu to Sukhu

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Kangra Airport Expansion Report in 2 Months

New Delhi , Sepetember 9

The techno-economic feasibility report for the expansion of Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra Airport will be finalized within two months, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu said during a meeting with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in New Delhi.

Sukhu raised the airport expansion project as a priority, saying improved air connectivity was crucial for boosting tourism and strengthening the state’s economy. He informed the Union minister that the land acquisition process for the expansion had already been completed.

Naidu directed the concerned authorities to appoint a competent consultant and complete the feasibility report within the stipulated two-month period. Sukhu said timely completion of the report would help accelerate the expansion project and urged the Airports Authority of India to make a realistic assessment of the project cost.

The Chief Minister also sought Central funding for heliports being developed across Himachal Pradesh, citing the state’s difficult terrain and the need to improve connectivity to remote and inaccessible areas.

The Center agreed to fund the construction of heliports in the state under the UDAN scheme.

The meeting also discussed regular flight operations from Shimla Airport. Naidu assured support for improving regular air connectivity to the state capital, while the two sides discussed operating suitable aircraft according to the airport’s runway capacity.

Sukhu also requested that security arrangements at Shimla Airport be handed over to the Himachal Pradesh Police instead of the CISF, as at Kangra Airport. The Union Ministry agreed to the proposal.

The Chief Minister said the expansion of Kangra Airport, regular flights from Shimla and a stronger heliport network would boost tourism and improve connectivity for people living in remote areas of the state.

Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister Ram Subhag Singh, Principal Secretary (Finance) Devesh Kumar, Secretary to the Chief Minister Rakesh Kanwar, Principal Resident Commissioner Ajay Kumarz, and other senior officials attended the meeting.