Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Wednesday inaugurated a helipad, built at a cost of Rs 18 crore, near the Sanjauli-Dhalli bypass.
Speaking to the media, Thakur said, “The Center has provided Rs 12.13 crore for the construction of this project under the Himalayan Circuit of the Swadesh Darshan scheme and Rs 6 crore under UDAN-2. This heliport will not only provide much-needed relief to high-end tourists visiting the state, but will also come in handy in case of medical emergencies as the heliport is close to the Indira Gandhi Medical College & Hospital in Shimla.
“The three-story heliport has all the modern facilities such as a reception desk, executive office, ticket counter and VIP lounge, among others. The heliport also has porta cabin facilities for arriving passengers, parking for 50 vehicles, a helicopter deck and a safety net, he said.
Thakur added, “The helipad spans 10.3 bigha land and has been beautified with murals and fully equipped with CCTV/surveillance system.”
The Chief Minister said helipads are also being constructed in Baddi, Rampur and Mandi under the Government of India’s Udaan-2 scheme.
“The state government will soon send a proposal for the construction of new heliports at Reckong Peo, Chamba, Dalhousie, Jhanjeli, Jawalaji, etc. to the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation to boost tourist activities in these areas,” he told the media. .
Thakur also said, “Special emphasis is placed on air connectivity as well as four lanes of national highways linking major tourist destinations in the state. At present, there are 64 heliports in the state and 38 new heliports are under construction by the state government. Helipads and helipads would prove beneficial in the near future in terms of tourism, connectivity and emergencies. It would also facilitate rescue operations and the transport of patients to major hospitals in the event of an emergency.
