Demand for helicopter-taxi

Representatives of corporate houses as well as local industrialists with manufacturing base in the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh area of Himachal Pradesh are demanding helicopter taxi services in the state for better connectivity.

They say this would help boost tourism and also facilitate the industry.

Since the notification of the special incentive package for the state by the Centre, more than 9,000 industrial investment proposals have been provisionally registered or approved in the small-scale industries and the medium- and large-scale sectors in the state catalysing investment of around Rs 28,000 crore.

The completion of the inter-state road link from Baddi to Chandigarh has been delayed. Although the Himachal government has completed its part, the Punjab government portion is yet to be completed. Thus, in the absence of proper connectivity, it takes more than two hours to reach Baddi.

The chairman (northern region) of Federation of Indian Export Organisation (FIEO) said since Himachal Pradesh is a landlocked region, air connectivity is important not only for tourism but also for industries.

He added that some of the 57 helipads in the state could be operationalised for increasing tourism. Besides, existing airports should be expanded to receive big aircraft. At present the state receives only three flights.

Speaking to Business Standard, Commissioner (tourism and civil aviation), Subhas Ahluwalia said, "We are in process of developing 4 more helipads in the state which would start operating shortly. So, there would soon be 61 helipads in the state. We are trying to connect even rural and tribal areas to promote tourism and facilitate industries. We have built the infrastructure and the start of helicopter taxi service now depends on private operators. We expect that private operators, seeing the project viability, would start their taxi services."

The helicopter taxi service will also give a fillip to tourism in the state. There has already been a substantial increase in the number of international tourists, most of them preferring to visit the tribal belts of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur.

Compared to 270,000 foreigners who visited Himachal in 2005, the number went up to 281,000 last year. Similarly, the number of domestic tourists visiting Himachal went up by 744,000 in 2006 compared to that in 2005.

The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation will be opening a multi-purpose tourism complex in the Baddi-Barotiwala area to cater to the growing demand of hospitality due to industrial boom in the area.