SHIMLA -23rd July, 2025

CM demands special central assistance for expansion of Kangra Airport

• Writes letter to Union Civil Aviation Minister to resume daily flight operations on Shimla-Dharamshala-Shimla route

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has requested Union Minister of Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu to expedite the various issues relating to the Civil Aviation sector in Himachal Pradesh as discussed with him during his recent visit to New Delhi.

In a letter written to him, the Chief Minister said that the State has to acquire approximately 150 hectare of land for the proposed expansion of Kangra airport and the State Government has started the process and awards for more than Rs. 1900 crore are ready and Rs. 410 crore have been disbursed. He said that the statutory stipulated period of one year is ending in August this year. He asked the Ministry of Civil Aviation to recommend this project to the Ministry of Finance and the PMO for Special Central Assistance.

Sh. Sukhu also wrote that the Techno-Economic Feasibility Report of Kangra Airport prepared by M/s WAPCOS Ltd. should also be reviewed for arriving at a realistic assessment of cost by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) as it was on a higher side. He also urged for exploring one of the options, the possibility of entering into a tripartite agreement with AAI, State of Himachal Pradesh and private partner for the expansion Kangra airport. He said that Kangra Airport currently operates under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) requiring a minimum visibility of 5 kilometers for flight operations and urged to make a provision for introduction of Special VFR operations to reduce the minimum visibility criteria from existing 5 kilometers to 2.5 kilometers to ensure operation of flights during reduced visibility conditions.

The Chief Minister said that Kangra Airport is the biggest and busiest airport in Himachal Pradesh, therefore, it shall be equipped with night landing facilities. He asked for deployment of Himachal Pradesh State Police instead of CISF for airport security at Kullu and Shimla airports on the analogy of Kangra aiport. He also urged for extending watch hours for the flight's operations at Shimla airport from 1.00 PM to 4.00 PM providing a larger window for the operation of flights.

Sh. Sukhu requested to provide second apron at Shimla airport suitable for operations of ATR 42/600 type of aircraft which will go a long way in increasing the flight operations and support multiple flight operations from Shimla Airport. He also asked for resuming daily flight operations on Shimla-Dharamshala-Shimla sector by Alliance Air Ltd.

The Chief Minister urged for conveying operational authorization for Sanjauli, Rampur, Baddi and Kangnidhar heliports by the October, 2025. He said that four additional heliports under RCS UDAN Phase-2 will be sanctioned for the State at Jaskot in Hamirpur, Dehra in Kangra and one each in Una and Bilaspur districts for boosting air connectivity. He said that Air operators like M/s Heritage Aviation, M/s Global Vectra and M/s Pawan Hans Ltd. will be directed to operationalize on their routes under RCS UDAN.

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Procurement of CT scan, ultrasound, X-ray, phaco machines and other equipment to be completed by August 2025: Health Minister

Health and Family affairs Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil said that the medical colleges, adarsh swasthya sansthans and other medical institutions would soon be equipped with modern-day health care machines. He said that state-of-the-art equipment and related infrastructure, including CT scan, X-ray, ultrasound, phaco and diagnostic machines would be procured within a month and would be made functional by August, 2025 which would ensure quality health care services across the state.

While chairing a Special High Power Purchase Committee (HPPC) meeting here today, he said that the government had decided that quality items would be added in the baby care kits and a total number of 18 items would be provided to the new born babies born in government and private institutions in the state. The process for procurement of these kits was in final stage and would be available in hospitals in August this year.

Dr. Shandil said that the government had ensured adequate budget for purchase of healthcare machinery. He directed the purchase committee to fast track the procurement process to ensure that in future all the purchases were completed as early as possible to benefit people of the state. Meanwhile, the government was also ensuring complete transparency and accountability in the while procurement process.

The Health Minister said that earlier the people of the state had to move out to neighbouring states in search of better health care. We had qualified and specialist doctors and staff, but our medical equipment was outdated. Once the purchases were finalized, state-run medical institutions in the state would offer equal and even better health services at the door-step for its people. He said that the government was moving ahead with an aim to establish Himachal a model of health tourism, where world class health services would be made available to the people within the state only.

He said that after assuming the power, the state government was working to make healthcare accessible to everyone at their door-steps and for this purpose, 69 adarsh swasthya sansthans, one each in every assembly constituency and two in Lahaul & Spiti were proposed and had been made functional in most of the constituencies. He said that every sansthan had six specialist doctors and with the procurement of the modern-day machines, the institutions would serve as a model of healthcare for other states to follow.

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Deputy CM inquires well being of former MLA Milkhi Ram Goma

Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri today visited IGMC Hospital, Shimla to inquire about the health of former MLA Milkhi Ram Goma. He wished him a speedy recovery.

Mukesh Agnihotri said that Milkhi Ram Goma’s social and political journey has been inspiring and his contribution to the service of the state was commendable.

Ayush & Sports Minister Yadvinder Goma was also present during the visit.