Himachal to set up international airport

Himachal Pradesh chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has said that the first international airport in the state would be set up near Shimla under the PPP mode at an initial cost of Rs 1,000 crore. Speaking at an investment meet, he said that land for the purpose had been identified at three places in Shimla and Solan districts and a final decision would be taken soon. He also announced that that 10 more helipads would be set up in Sirmour, Kinnaur and Mandi districts thereby increasing the total number of helipads in the state to 70. He also said that heli-taxis services in the state would be started soon. The government had finalised the names of three heli-taxi operators and a formal MoU with them would be signed within a month. In the initial stage, all district headquarters would be connected by heli-taxis services. Dhumal said that the state government would also request the railway ministry to start heritage trains on the Unesco heritage Shimla-Kalka and Pathankot -Joginder Nagar lines for tourists visiting the state.