Himachal Chief minister Virbhadra Singh on Tuesday raised the issue of expansion and modernisation of all the airports in the State in his meeting with union Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh in New Delhi.
He requested for increase in the length of Shimla airport runway 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 runway in time bound manner, so that normal flights could be started on the airport before the onset of winter tourism season. The Chief minister apprised the Union Minister that the length of the Shimla airport runway had been effectively reduced to 3,800 feet from original runway length of 4,100 feet, due to soil erosion. He said that at present the ATR aircraft cannot take-off with full load.
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. The 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 tourism in entire tribal and snow bound areas of the State which had immense tourism potential. 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 private airlines services in the State which had smaller aircrafts and would work for lasting solution of the problem.