Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Friday directed the officers concerned to expedite various formalities for construction of Greenfield Airport at Nagchala in Mandi district and expansion of Kangra and Shimla Airports.

Thakur while presiding over a meeting regarding development and expansion of Airports in the State, said that land measuring 2936 bigha has been identified for construction of Greenfield Airport in Mandi  and site clearance has been obtained in January 2020.

He said that during a meeting held with the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation  in November 2019, it was decided that AAI will go ahead with 2100 meters length of runway in phase-I.

However, the Himachal Government would acquire land for the proposed runway upto 3150 meters for phase-II and additional land would be kept unutilized as a buffer zone, he added. 

He said that the State Government had signed MoU for development and operation of this Greenfield airport through a Joint Venture Company on January 15 this year.

The Chief Minister said that as per estimates, total expenditure of Rs 7448 crore would be incurred on this ambitious project on land acquisition, terminal building, runways and allied activities. The expenditure of Rs 2786 crore on land acquisition, Rs 2965 crore on other developmental activities, Rs. 900 crore on terminal building, runway and allied infrastructure,  Rs 782 crore on structures and Rs 15 crore on compensatory levies for FCA  would be made, he said.

He further said that this proposed airstrip would require channelization of Suketi khad. Talking about Kangra Airport, Thakur said that 1780 bigha of land has been identified for development and expansion of Kangra Airport for operation of A-320 type of aircraft and cost of acquisition of land and allied activities would be Rs. 3347.18 crore. This  proposed airstrip would require channelization of Manjhi khad alongwith construction of a new approach road to the airport.

While referring to expansion of Shimla Airport, the Chief Minister said that Union Civil Aviation Minister had in November 2019 agreed to provide funds for expansion of Shimla Airport runway adding length of another 300 meters for which land measuring 182-11 bighas had been identified.  The proposal for the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) has been submitted.

Thakur also said that with the construction of Greenfield Airport in Mandi district and expansion of Kangra Airport and Shimla Airport, tourism activities would get new boost up in the State as high end tourists would come forward to visit Himachal, which would not only strengthen the economy but also provide employment and self employment avenues to the local people.

During the meeting, a presentation was also made on various tourism projects being implemented in the State by Secretary, Tourism and Civil Aviation Devesh Kumar.