Himachal yet to give nod to SKIL for multi-billion project

The Himachal government had in principle shortlisted SKIL and D S constructions after seeing their presentations for a multi-billion project but was yet to award the work to a single company,the state's tourism minister GS Bali said.

"Besides, the special economic zone act will apply to this proposal before it is finally cleared by the Centre and the state government permission will not be enough," added Bali.

The SKIL project promoted by Nikhil Gandhi in Mumbai plans construction of a hill station with five star hotels, a ski village, fruit and food processing zone and even a luxury mountain train besides an international airport.

The proposed hill station will have high tech health care facilities, besides knowledge based infrastructure. The ambitious train project is likely to be built by a Swiss company. The project will also have some of the best skiing facilities in the world.

The fruit and flower processing infrastructure is to be spread over 3,000 acres and will be close to the international airport.

Sources said, "The project is likely to be based in Kullu or Shimla and Solan districts. It is likely to be taken up in two stages with Rs 4,200 crore to be spent in the first phase."