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75% needed land shall be made available within a month
Dharamsala, May 15, 2015: There is a plan to expand airport of Dharamsala to make it feasible for landing of Boeing aircrafts. This was stated here by Urban Development Minister of Himachal Sudhir Sharma after a meeting with high level delegation of the Air Port Authority of India in Dharamsala on Friday.
Sharma said, “Gaggal air port of Dharamsala has the maximum possibility for expansion than any other airport in the country which needs development. The Airport Authority wants its runway to be extended from 1370 meters (at present) to 1920 meters, and as the 75 %of needed land belongs to state government it shall be made available for within a month.”
Minister said that a committee under the chairmanship of Additional Deputy Commissioner Kangra has been constituted for this purpose. He said that Instrumental Landing System (ILS) and Very High Frequency Omni Radiation Director VOR are being established in the Gaggal airport to facilitate landing in the adverse weather conditions.
Minister further informed that refueling facility is being created at this airport so that the incoming flights can carry maximum load.
Sudhir Sharma said, “The case of subsidized flights to Dharamsala on the terms of Hill states of North East and J&K is being strongly raised with Central government to give financial help to air travelers of this area.”
On the other hand Member of Parliament Anurag Singh Thakur today flagged-off Spice Jet’s additional flight connecting Dharamsala to Delhi at the Gaggal Airport. This shall be a third regular daily flight between the two cities. Dharamsala flights will be operated by Spice Jet’s Bombardier Q400 aircraft. With these new flights, frequency of service will increase from 7 to 13 flights weekly to Delhi from Dharamsala.
Thakur said, “Dharamsala has become the favourite destination for worldwide visitors in India after the IPL matches here, which gave facility of live viewing the candid beauty of the area in 190 countries.” He said that he is working hard to prove night landing facility in Gaggal.
While addressing the media at Kangra Airport, Captain Sandeep Varma, Sr. VP and Head of Flight Operations SpiceJet, said “The additional flights will help SpiceJet meet the increased demand for Dharamsala – Delhi sector; which is one of the most popular sector in north India, especially in the peak season.” “These flights also demonstrate the commitment of SpiceJet for non-metro destinations; which we are uniquely positioned to do amongst low-cost airlines, due to the flexibility provided by the Q400 aircraft in our fleet”, he added.
SpiceJet operates 245 daily flights to 41 destinations, including 34 Indian and 7 international cities.
Another air operator, Jet Airway is also reported to start its flights soon to Dharamsala from Delhi and Chandigarh.
Meanwhile, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda met Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju in Delhi on Friday and discussed proposals to improve air connectivity for Himachal Pradesh, an official said.
"There has been a long felt need to improve air connectivity and strengthen civil aviation infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh. I have discussed several proposals with the civil aviation minister and he has assured all necessary support," an official statement quoting Nadda said.
The proposals which were discussed at the meeting included creation of aircraft fuelling facility at the Gaggal Airport in Dharamsala and increase in flights on Delhi-Dharamsala routes.
Date:
Friday, May 15, 2015