Chief Minister demands early resumption of flights to Shimla

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.

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.

Nadda seeks modernisation of airports in Himachal

Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda met Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju here and discussed proposals to improve air connectivity for Himachal Pradesh, an official statement said here on Friday.

"There has been a long felt need to improve air connectivity and strengthen civil aviation infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh. I have discussed several proposals with the civil aviation minister and he has assured all necessary support," an official statement quoting Nadda said.

The proposals which were discussed at the meeting included creation of aircraft fuelling facility at the Gaggal Airport in Dharamsala and increase in flights on Delhi-Kullu and Delhi-Dharamsala routes.

Nadda, who belongs to the hill state, also took up the issue of extending the operational hours at Kullu airport. This would go a long way in improving connectivity to Kullu, a key tourist destination.

It said Nadda discussed the possibility of providing incentives to encourage non-scheduled operators on Kullu-Chandigarh and Kullu-Delhi routes.

"The civil aviation minister also assured that to improve connectivity the possibility of starting helicopter services between Shimla and Chandigarh will also be explored," the health minister said.

"The civil aviation ministry would explore the possibility of starting additional flights during the winter season," he said.

Official sources said Shimla's airport at Jubbarhatti, located 2,196 metres above sea-level, has been shut for the scheduled flights since Sep 6, 2012, affecting tourists and business travellers to the state. However, the Kullu and Dharamsala airport have been operating.

Source: IANS

CM demands expansion of Shimla airport

Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh on Wednesday said that issue of development of Shimla runway at Jubberhatti would be taken up on priority with the Airports Authority of India (AAI). He said that if AAI will refuse for expanding the airstrip, then state government would do the needful through its own resources.

Chief minister said this while speaking at the concluding ceremony of two-day long traditional 'Anokhi Dali' fair at Jubbarhatti, near Shimla. He said that state government had developed Jubberhatti runway through its own resources and later handed it over to AAI for operation.

"The flights on this Airport were not being operated since last one year as the concerned Airline had closed its services whereas Air India and other airlines with bigger aircrafts cannot land here as they lack facility of smaller jets," he added. He said that if Airport Authority refused for expanding the airstrip, then State Government would do the needful through its resources.

Virbhadra Singh said that he had laid the foundation stone of Katasani cricket stadium near Jubberhatti during his previous term but BJP government took no interest in constructing the stadium and funds allocated were diverted elsewhere. He requested the local people to come forward in providing land voluntarily so that government could develop a multi-purpose sports stadium at Katasani.

He said that the 'Anokhi Dali' was the traditional fair used to be held at the place where airport presently exists.

Virbhadra Singh said 24 roads would be widened in Shimla Rural constituency by approximately Rs 100 crores and a dental college and shooting range would also be established at Nehra in Shakrah Panchayat. He said the second campus of the HP University would also be established in this constituency.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Himachal-CM-demands-expansion-of-Shimla-airport/articleshow/26894255.cms

Virbhadra seeks expansion of Shimla, Kullu airports

Chief Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh has raised the issue of expansion and modernization of all the airports in the State with the government of India. Chief Minister, who met Union Civil Aviation Minister Shri Ajit Singh in New Delhi today, raised this issue. 

He requested for increase in the length of Shimla airport runway so as to facilitate the landing of bigger aircraft in the state. He demanded to provide adequate budget to the airport authority for restoring the original length of the run way in time bound manner so as normal flights could be plied on the airport before the winter tourism season .

Chief Minister apprised the Union Minister that the length of the Shimla airport runway had been effectively reduced to 3800 feet from original runway length of 4100 feet due to soil erosion. He said that at present the ATR aircraft cannot take-off with full load. The airport authority of India had drawn up plan to restore the original length of the runway which would mitigate the load factor problem. He offered all infrastructural and other assistance from the state government in restoring the original length of the run way. 

Shri Virbhadra Singh demanded the expansion of the airport and increase in the length of the runway by at least 600 ft so that the bigger aircraft could land safely at Shimla airport.

Chief Minister further requested expansion of Kullu airport adding that the state government had conducted feasibility study through IIT, Roorkee in consultation with airport authority of India. It had concluded that the Kullu airport could be further expanded and the presentation of the study had already been sent to the civil aviation ministry. He requested for allocation of adequate funds for the expansion plan of the Kullu airport.

Shri Virbhadra Singh requested for setting up advance technology and equipments at Shimla, Kangra and Kullu airports so as the larger aircrafts could land during all weather conditions. He asked for time bound action in this regard keeping in view of safety and convenience of the air passengers.

He also requested the union minister for developing infrastructure facilities for landing of large bodied fixed wing aircraft in the state and said that state government had submitted a proposal to airport authority of India for conducting feasibility study for new airport at Kandaghat in Solan district. He requested the union minister to direct the airport authority of India for identifying the new locations for setting up big modern airport to meet the growing demand of air services in the state. 

Chief Minister also requested to start smaller aircraft services of Air India to the state on the pattern of the north eastern states and also provide cheap and reliable air services in the state .He demanded construction of airport at Kaza in Lahaul-Spiti district on the pattern of Leh airport and said that Kaza airport will be more viable both economically and technically in comparison to Leh airport. Besides it would also boost the tourism in entire tribal and snow bound areas of the state which had immense tourism potential.

Shri Ajit Singh said that top officials of the civil aviation ministry would hold detailed discussions with the Himachal government officials on the expansion and modernization of all the airports in the State. He said civil aviation ministry was giving top priority for ensuring reliable and economic air services in the state. The ministry was exploring the possibility of plying the private airlines services in the state which had smaller aircrafts and would work for lasting solution of the problem.

State Government requests for Reliable and Affordable Air connectivity

The State Government today requested the Union Civil Aviation Ministry to ensure reliable and affordable air connectivity to the State.

While speaking in Union Civil Aviation Ministers conference at New Delhi, Industries and Information & Public Relations Minister, Shri Mukesh Agnihotri said that at present there were no regular and reliable flights at all the three major airports of the State. He said that flights at Shimla airport had been suspended due to erosion in the air strip while flights at Bhunter and Kangra airports were not operating due to various other reasons. He requested the Civil Aviation Ministry to take effective steps to restore the air services in all the Airports in the State immediately. He said that VAT on air fuel had been reduced from 5% to only 1% from 1st April 2013 to provide cheap fuel to aircraft flying in the State. He told that Shimla, Kullu and Kangra towns had been identified as places of major importance for encouraging tourists and citizens of the State. He requested the Union Ministry to subsidize the Heli-Taxi flights in the State on the pattern of North Eastern States to provide connectivity on loss making routes and told that "Seat Underwriting" on flights by the State Government to incentivise private run airlines was not possible due to financial constraints of the State Government.

Shri Mukesh Agnihotri told that the State Government plans to construct Green Field Airports at Kandaghat, Jawalamukhi and Ranital to promote tourism and air connectivity in the State adding that Airport Authority of India had been requested to prepare pre feasibility report on all these airports. He said that the State Government had selected suitable land for construction of all these airports. He said that the State Government also proposes to extend the airstrips at Kullu airport for which technical assistance from IIT Roorkee has been taken. 

Industries Minister said that at present there were 63 operational helipads at various places in the State and added that the State Government had identified new locations for constructions of helipads in the State .

He told that the State Government had provided free land to AAI for construction of Shimla, Kullu and Kangra airports in order to strengthen air services in the State and had taken initiative to extend the airstrip of Kullu Airport. He said that the State Government was not imposing any property tax on airport land.

He requested the Civil Aviation Ministry to include Himachal Pradesh in the development of 50 new low cost airports and 20 new bigger airports in the country so as to strengthen the air services in the State, as we have inadequate Railway connectivity in the State.