Shimla gets heliport

Shimla now has a heliport on the Sanjauli -Dhalli by pass road built at a cost of Rs 18 crore.

Government of India has provided Rs 12.13 crore for construction of this project under Himalayan Circuit of the Swadesh Darshan programme and Rs 6 crore under UDAN-2 of Central Government.

While inaugurating the heliport today Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said this heliport will not only provide much needed relief to the high-end tourists visiting the State, besides being effectively used in case of medical emergency as this heliport was near IGMC, Shimla.

Thakur said that this three-storeyed heliport has all the modern facilities like reception counter, heliport manager office, ticket counter and VIP lounge .  The heliport also has Porata Cabin facilities for arrival of passengers, parking for 50 vehicles, deck for helicopter and safety net.

It is spread in an area of 10.3 bighas and has been beautified by mural painting and has been fully equipped with CCTV and Surveillance system.

He said heliports were also being constructed at Baddi, Rampur and Mandi under Udaan-2 scheme of Government of India. 

The State Government will soon send a proposal of construction of new heliports at Reckong Peo, Chamba, Dhalousie, Jhanjeli and Jawalaji to the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation which would give new fillip to tourism activities in these areas. 

He said special emphasis was being laid on air connectivity along with four laning of National Highways connecting main tourist destinations.At present there are 64 helipads and 38 new helipads were being constructed by the state government.