Chief Minister Mr Virbhadra Singh urged the government of India to resume the domestic flights to Shimla airport on priority basis to facilitate the domestic and foreign tourists. He also requested for expansion of all the three runways of the State to facilitate the landing of bigger aircrafts to cater to the needs of substantial influx of tourists in the State.
The Chief Minister raised these issues in a meeting with Union Aviation Minister Mr Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati at New Delhi today.
He apprised the Union Minister that Himachal Pradesh was facing a lot of embarrassment due to poor air connectivity particularly to Shimla airport as domestic flights had been suspended since September, 2012. He added that most probably Shimla was the only State Capital of the country which was not connected by air to the national capital. He raised his concern that Airport Authority of India was showing causal approach over this major issue despite repeated requests of the State.
He also demanded creation of airport fuelling facility at Gaggal and Shimla airports to avoid any inconvenience to the tourists as this facility was so far available at Bhuntar airport only.
Mr Pusapati assured the Chief Minister to extend all possible support to the State and directed the senior officers of the Ministry to prepare a ‘Developable Action Plan’ concerning the runways of the State in a time bound manner. He suggested that for fuelling facility, the concerned operating airlines should come forward to extend such facility instead of depending on Airport Authority of India.
Major Vijay Singh Mankotia, the Vice-Chairman of H.P. Tourism Development Board who also accompanied the Chief Minister in the meeting endorsed the need of proper air connectivity in the State and said that Himachal Pradesh had always remained proactive to create infrastructure to boost tourism activities. He informed that the airports of Shimla and Gaggal were the best example of this approach which were constructed by the State Government and later on handed over to Airport Authority of India for further operational formalities.
Mr. V.C. Pharka, Additional Chief Secretary of the State and senior officers of Civil Aviation Ministry also attended the meeting.
The Chief Minister raised these issues in a meeting with Union Aviation Minister Mr Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati at New Delhi today.
He apprised the Union Minister that Himachal Pradesh was facing a lot of embarrassment due to poor air connectivity particularly to Shimla airport as domestic flights had been suspended since September, 2012. He added that most probably Shimla was the only State Capital of the country which was not connected by air to the national capital. He raised his concern that Airport Authority of India was showing causal approach over this major issue despite repeated requests of the State.
Related: आपदा प्रभावितों को जल्द मुआवजा देने का निर्देश, समस्याओं के समाधान के लिए इस दिन लगेगा शिविर
Mr Virbhadra Singh also raised the matter of expansion of all the three runways of the State including Shimla, Gaggal (Dharamsala) and Bhuntar (Kullu) to facilitate the landing of bigger aircrafts to cater to the needs of high end tourists traveling to the hill State. He also requested that the operational hours and frequency of flights may also be extended to these airports as tourists traffic had been hampered due to non-availability of proper air connectivity.He also demanded creation of airport fuelling facility at Gaggal and Shimla airports to avoid any inconvenience to the tourists as this facility was so far available at Bhuntar airport only.
Mr Pusapati assured the Chief Minister to extend all possible support to the State and directed the senior officers of the Ministry to prepare a ‘Developable Action Plan’ concerning the runways of the State in a time bound manner. He suggested that for fuelling facility, the concerned operating airlines should come forward to extend such facility instead of depending on Airport Authority of India.
Major Vijay Singh Mankotia, the Vice-Chairman of H.P. Tourism Development Board who also accompanied the Chief Minister in the meeting endorsed the need of proper air connectivity in the State and said that Himachal Pradesh had always remained proactive to create infrastructure to boost tourism activities. He informed that the airports of Shimla and Gaggal were the best example of this approach which were constructed by the State Government and later on handed over to Airport Authority of India for further operational formalities.
Mr. V.C. Pharka, Additional Chief Secretary of the State and senior officers of Civil Aviation Ministry also attended the meeting.
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