CM Sukhu Reviews Tourism Projects; Rs. 460 Crore Disbursed for Kangra Airport Expansion, Rs.1,899 Crore More to Be Released Soon.
Shimla:
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today announced that the Himachal Pradesh Government has disbursed Rs. 460 crore towards land acquisition for the expansion of Kangra Airport, while an additional Rs. 1,899 crore in land awards is ready for disbursement. He said the airport expansion is a crucial infrastructure initiative that will significantly boost the region’s tourism and economy.
Presiding over a review meeting of ongoing projects of the Tourism Department in Shimla, the Chief Minister said that the expansion of Kangra Airport will not only benefit Kangra district but also the adjoining regions by enhancing connectivity and promoting tourism. “The project will open up new avenues for employment and self-employment for local youth and attract high-end tourists to the area,” he remarked.
CM Sukhu also reviewed the progress of heliport projects being constructed across the state and directed officials to accelerate the pace of work. He informed that the Sanjauli and Rampur Bushair heliports have already received operational authorization from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and operations should commence soon after the completion of remaining formalities.
The Chief Minister further reviewed the ongoing construction of heliports at Kagnidhar (Mandi district), Rakkar and Palampur (Kangra district), Sultanpur (Kullu district), Reckong Peo (Kinnaur district), and Jaskot (Hamirpur district). He instructed that these projects be completed by next year, emphasizing that improved air connectivity would significantly enhance tourism prospects in these areas.
CM Sukhu also directed officials to identify and operationalize new helicopter routes to further facilitate tourist movement within the state. “Tourism is the mainstay of Himachal Pradesh’s economy, and the State Government is committed to promoting it in a big way,” he said.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister reviewed the status of the Auhar Tourist Complex in Bilaspur district, where 46 percent of the work has been completed. He instructed officials to expedite construction to ensure timely completion. He also assessed the progress of various tourism infrastructure projects being developed with Asian Development Bank (ADB) funding and called for faster execution.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary (Tourism) Devesh Kumar, Secretary to Chief Minister Rakesh Kanwar, Director of Tourism Vivek Bhatia, and other senior officers.
