In a significant move aimed at boosting air connectivity and infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has written to Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, urging for swift action on key aviation-related matters in the state. The correspondence follows up on discussions held during the Chief Minister’s recent visit to New Delhi and outlines pressing needs, with a major emphasis on the proposed expansion of the Kangra Airport.
Chief Minister Sukhu highlighted the urgency of acquiring approximately 150 hectares of land for the ambitious expansion project at Kangra Airport. The State Government has already taken concrete steps in this direction, with compensation awards exceeding ₹1,900 crore ready and a substantial amount of ₹410 crore already disbursed to landowners. The Chief Minister underlined that the statutory one-year timeline for land acquisition concludes this August, and he urged the Ministry of Civil Aviation to recommend this strategically crucial project to the Ministry of Finance and the Prime Minister’s Office for Special Central Assistance.
In his letter, CM Sukhu also raised concerns over the cost assessment outlined in the Techno-Economic Feasibility Report prepared by M/s WAPCOS Ltd., calling for a review by the Airport Authority of India (AAI). He stated that the estimates were on the higher side and needed reevaluation to arrive at a more realistic and workable budget. In line with creating a financially viable and time-bound model for development, the Chief Minister suggested exploring a tripartite agreement between the AAI, the State Government, and a private sector partner to facilitate the airport’s expansion.
The Chief Minister drew attention to operational challenges at Kangra Airport, particularly its dependence on Visual Flight Rules (VFR), which mandate a minimum visibility of five kilometers. He advocated for the implementation of Special VFR protocols, which would reduce the visibility threshold to 2.5 kilometers, thereby enabling safer and more frequent flight operations during adverse weather conditions. Given Kangra Airport’s status as the busiest in Himachal Pradesh, Sukhu emphasized the need to upgrade it with night landing facilities to accommodate growing demand.
In his letter, the Chief Minister also proposed a shift in airport security personnel deployment. He recommended that Himachal Pradesh State Police should be assigned to oversee airport security at Shimla and Kullu airports, following the example of Kangra Airport, where the state police currently manage security duties instead of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
To further enhance the operational capacity of the Shimla airport, Sukhu requested an extension of its daily flight watch hours from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. This would allow greater flexibility and accommodate more flights in the region, he noted. Additionally, he proposed the construction of a second aircraft apron at Shimla airport to support operations for ATR 42/600 aircraft, a move expected to significantly enhance both capacity and efficiency.
A revival of regular commercial operations on the Shimla-Dharamshala-Shimla air route is also on the Chief Minister’s agenda. He called on Alliance Air Ltd. to resume daily flights on this crucial sector to support both local commuters and tourists.
The letter further sought speedy operational authorization for heliports at Sanjauli, Rampur, Baddi, and Kangnidhar by October 2025, and requested that four more heliports be sanctioned under the RCS UDAN Phase-2 scheme. These are proposed at Jaskot in Hamirpur, Dehra in Kangra, and one each in Una and Bilaspur districts. Sukhu emphasized that expanding the state’s heliport network will be vital in improving last-mile air connectivity, especially in hilly terrains.
Finally, the Chief Minister asked the Centre to direct air service operators such as M/s Heritage Aviation, M/s Global Vectra, and M/s Pawan Hans Ltd. to operationalize their designated routes under the RCS UDAN scheme without further delay. By pushing these aviation upgrades, CM Sukhu aims to integrate Himachal Pradesh more robustly with national air corridors, catalyzing tourism and regional development across the state.
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