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Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Sukhu writes to Union minister Naidu, seeks central aid for expansion of Kangra airport
With the process of expansion of Kangra airport underway, Himachal chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has written to Union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu requesting to recommend the expansion project for 'Special Central Assistance'. With the process of expansion of Kangra airport underway, Himachal chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has written to Union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu requesting to recommend the expansion project for 'Special Central Assistance'. (fILE PHOTO) The letter follows CM Sukhu's recent meeting with the Union minister on July 14 in New Delhi. For the proposed expansion of the Kangra airport at Gaggal in Himachal's Kangra district, the cost of the land acquisition is pegged at approximately ₹3,500 crore. The state government has acquired around 150 hectares for the expansion project. As the land acquisition process has already started, awards for more than ₹1,900 crore are ready and ₹410 crore have been disbursed so far. 'The statutory stipulated period of one year is going to end in August, 2025. The Ministry of Civil Aviation may kindly recommend this project to the Ministry of Finance and the PMO for the Special Central Assistance as agreed during the meeting,' states CM Sukhu's letter to the aviation minister. The expansion project, which is underway, aims to increase the runway length of Kangra airport from the current 1,376 metres to 3,010 metres. This extension is crucial for accommodating larger aircraft, such as the Airbus A320, which would enhance connectivity between the Kangra valley and other parts of the country. Currently, only eight flights (16 movements) operate at Kangra Airport each day, connecting to Shimla, Delhi, and Chandigarh. With the proposed expansion, the airport could accommodate more flights, connect to additional destinations, and even open up the possibility of initiating international services. Sukhu also wrote that the Techno-Economic Feasibility Report of Kangra Airport prepared by M/s WAPCOS Ltd. should also be reviewed for arriving at a realistic assessment of cost by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) as it was on a higher side. 'Kangra Airport currently operates under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), requiring a minimum visibility of 5 km for flight operations, it was agreed that AAI will make provision for introduction of Special VFR operations so as to reduce the minimum visibility criteria from existing 5 km to 2.5 km to ensure operation of flights during reduced visibility conditions,' the letter states. During the meeting on July 14, Sukhu has also urged the Union minister to operate Delhi-Shimla-Dharamshala and Dharamshala-Shimla-Delhi flights on a daily basis, highlighting that at present, these flights were operational only three days a week, causing inconvenience to the tourists. He also requested the commencement of night landing facilities at Kangra airport. Sukhu has also asked for deployment of Himachal Pradesh State Police instead of CISF for airport security at Kullu and Shimla airports on the analogy of Kangra airport. He also urged for extending watch hours for the flight's operations at Shimla airport from 1 pm to 4 pm providing a larger window for the operation of flights.
News18
6 days ago
- Business
- News18
CM Sukhu demands Special Central Assistance for expansion of Kangra Airport
Shimla, Jul 23 (PTI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday requested Union Minister of Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu to recommend Kangra Airport's expansion project to the Ministry of Finance and the Prime Minister Office (PMO) for Special Central Assistance. In a letter to the Union minister, the chief minister said that the state has to acquire approximately 150 hectares of land for the proposed expansion of the airport. It has started the process and awards for more than Rs 1900 crore are ready, and Rs 410 crore have been disbursed. Stating that the statutory stipulated period of one year is ending in August this year, he asked the Ministry of Civil Aviation to recommend this project to the Ministry of Finance and the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) for Special Central Assistance. Sukhu also wrote that the Techno-Economic Feasibility Report of Kangra Airport should also be reviewed for arriving at a realistic assessment of cost by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) as it was on a higher side. He also urged for exploring the possibility of entering into a tripartite agreement with AAI, Himachal Pradesh and a private partner for the expansion of Kangra Airport. He said that Kangra Airport currently operates under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) requiring a minimum visibility of 5 kilometers for flight operations and urged to make a provision for introduction of Special VFR operations to reduce the minimum visibility criteria from existing five kilometers to 2.5 kilometers to ensure operation of flights during reduced visibility conditions. Kangra Airport is the biggest and busiest airport in Himachal Pradesh, therefore, it shall be equipped with night-landing facilities, he said, and asked for deployment of Himachal Pradesh State Police instead of CISF for airport security at Kullu and Shimla airports on the analogy of Kangra Airport. He urged for extending watch hours for the flight's operations at Shimla airport from 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm, providing a larger window for the operation of flights. Sukhu also requested to provide a second apron at Shimla airport to increase flight operations and support multiple flight operations from Shimla Airport. He also asked for resuming daily flight operations on Shimla-Dharamshala-Shimla sector by Alliance Air Ltd. PTI BPL MNK MNK view comments First Published: July 23, 2025, 19:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
11-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Mobile hospital inaugurated in Pusuguppa village under the Centre's SCA scheme for LWE-affected areas
To provide prompt healthcare services to the needy in Telangana's remote tribal pockets in Bhadrachalam Agency area, a mobile hospital was inaugurated at Pusuguppa village in the Charla mandal of Bhadradri Kothagudem district, bordering Chhattisgarh. The mobile hospital/telemedicine building was inaugurated by Bhadrachalam MLA Dr. Tellam Venkata Rao in the presence of the district Collector Jitesh V. Patil and Superintendent of Police B. Rohith Raju in Pusuguppa village on Friday. The facility, set up under the Special Central Assistance (SCA) scheme at an estimated cost of Rs 1 crore, will cater to the healthcare needs of adivasis living in several remote tribal villages in the Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas along the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border. An ambulance was flagged off by the MLA at the newly inaugurated facility on the occasion. The mobile hospital will help fill the critical gaps in the public health infrastructure in the remote tribal pockets of Bhadrachalam Agency, sources said. It will also offer emergency medical services to the needy in the forested border region. The MLA lauded the initiative of the district police in improving road connectivity and healthcare services in far flung areas of Charla mandal, inhabited by adivasis.
