CM Flags Off Helicopter Services from Sanjauli Heliport, Boosting Tourism and Air Connectivity in Himachal Pradesh.
Shimla:
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday inaugurated helicopter services from the Sanjauli Heliport in Shimla, marking a major step towards strengthening air connectivity and giving a fresh impetus to tourism in Himachal Pradesh.
With the inauguration, daily helicopter services have commenced from Sanjauli to Bhuntar Airport in Kullu and to the ITBP Helipad at Reckong Peo throughout the week. In addition, helicopter services between Chandigarh and Sanjauli Heliport will operate three days a week—on Monday, Friday and Saturday.
The fare for the Sanjauli–Kullu route has been fixed at Rs. 3,500 per passenger, while passengers travelling on the Sanjauli–Reckong Peo route will be charged Rs. 4,000. The fare from Sanjauli to Chandigarh has been set at Rs. 3,169 per passenger.
Addressing the occasion, the Chief Minister said that helicopter services on the Sanjauli–Rampur–Reckong Peo and Sanjauli–Manali (SASE Helipad) routes would also be launched soon. He informed that proposals for these routes had already been submitted to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for approval of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Congratulating the people of the state, CM Sukhu expressed hope that the new helicopter services would significantly benefit stakeholders associated with the tourism sector. He said that operations from Sanjauli Heliport had been a long-pending demand, which had finally been fulfilled. The services, he added, would provide faster, safer and more convenient connectivity for tourists as well as the general public.
The Chief Minister further pointed out that the Sanjauli Heliport’s proximity to Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC), Shimla, would make it extremely useful during medical emergencies. Reiterating the State Government’s commitment to tourism promotion, he said Himachal Pradesh was globally renowned as a major tourist destination, and improved air connectivity would enhance access to key locations across the state.
Emphasizing infrastructure development, CM Sukhu said that heliports were being constructed at every district headquarters and major tourist destinations. He informed that construction of four heliports—at Jaskot in Hamirpur district, Rakkar and Palampur in Kangra district, and Chamba—was underway and would be completed by March–April. An amount of Rs. 15 crore is being spent on each heliport. These facilities, he said, would attract high-end tourists and generate increased income and employment opportunities for local residents.
The Chief Minister stated that the present State Government was focused on creating essential infrastructure for residents and tourists alike. He alleged that the previous BJP Government had wasted nearly Rs. 1,000 crore on the construction of buildings that remained unutilized and vacant.
It was also informed that the foundation stone of the Sanjauli Heliport was laid on September 13, 2017, during the tenure of the Congress Government. The heliport was constructed at a cost of approximately Rs. 15.86 crore and inaugurated on January 12, 2022. However, operations could not begin earlier due to the absence of DGCA clearance. Following persistent efforts by the present State Government, permission to operate flights was finally granted on August 7, 2025, after multiple inspections by the DGCA and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and compliance with all security-related requirements.
Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi, Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation R.S. Bali, MLA Neeraj Nayar, Principal Media Advisor to the Chief Minister Naresh Chauhan, Director Tourism Vivek Bhatia, Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap and other senior officers were present on the occasion.
