Himachal Pradesh will soon get an international airport. The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has identified a spot in Mandi district. |
"The Airport Authority of India has found Nerdangu suitable for building an airport where large aircraft will be able to land safely," said the state tourism minister, GS Bali. |
"The Himachal Pradesh government had sent three options from the Mandi district to the AAI, but finally Nerdangu was chosen by experts," said the tourism minister. |
"The state is also proposing to build another airport at Poanta Sahib, in Sirmaur district. A survey will be carried out soon at this place (Poanta)," he added. |
"The existing gaggal airport in the Kangra valley is being expanded with the Centre's help. For this Rs 10.24 crore has been sanctioned of which Rs 9.24 crore has already been spent," Bali said. |
"The expanded gaggal airport near Dharamsala town will be able to land Boeing and ATR aircraft," he said. |
He ruled out building an airport near Jwalamukhi in the region as locals had objected to handing over fertile agricultural land to the government. |
There are currently only three airports in the state in Shimla, Kullu and Gaggal. Only 30 seater aeroplanes can land in these airports as they lie in mountainous terrain. |
The non-availability of larger airports is proving to be a handicap for high-end tourists and the corporate sector in the hill state, forcing the government to look for new sites to build larger airports. |