Himachal airport may land in turf problems

Despite Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh's announcement of having an airport in the Sundernagar town of Himachal Pradesh, the high cost of acquiring land and problems of relocating people may prove to be obstacles.

Having an airport in Sundernagar is considered crucial because the town is located in the middle of the state.

"The site must be finalised expeditiously and a joint inspection carried out, involving all relevant agencies," Singh said in a discussion with senior officials yesterday at Sundernagar in the Mandi district, 150 km from Shimla.

Himachal currently has just three minor airports in Shimla, Kullu, and Kangra, where only 20-seat aircraft are able to land.

Singh talked about exploring the possibilities of another airport in the district of Una, 240 km from Shimla, to promote tourism in Himachal Pradesh. "With emerging technologies, the necessary infrastructure must be created in aerospace on a long-term basis," he said.

Stressing the importance of connecting important tourist destinations of the state by air, he said, "The government was considering availing of the services of private entrepreneurs to connect popular destinations of the state with helicopter services, operating from Shimla and Chandigarh."

More helipads are being planned in several tourist resorts.