RajKumar Choudhary
Gaggal
Kangra Airport has embarked on a dual initiative aimed at enhancing passenger experience and promoting cleanliness, with the launch of the Passenger Service Campaign and Swachhta Hi Seva–2026. The campaigns, inaugurated on Thursday, will run concurrently, with the cleanliness drive continuing until October 2 and the passenger service campaign extending until October 10.
These initiatives reflect the administration’s commitment to providing travelers with improved facilities, ensuring robust security arrangements, and fostering a clean, welcoming environment that highlights Himachal Pradesh’s cultural heritage.
Passenger Service Campaign: A Focus on Comfort and Culture
The Passenger Service Campaign is designed to elevate the travel experience for all passengers, particularly first-time flyers, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and families.
- Cultural Welcome: Travelers arriving at Kangra Airport will be greeted with performances showcasing Himachali folk dances and traditional music, offering visitors a glimpse into the region’s rich cultural tapestry.
- Enhanced Facilities: The campaign emphasizes cleanliness and orderliness across the airport premises, including the drop-off lanes, parking areas, and waiting zones.
- Priority Assistance: Special arrangements are being made to provide priority support to elderly passengers, differently-abled individuals, and those with specific needs.
- Safe Environment: Women, children, and families will benefit from improved safety measures, ensuring a secure and comfortable travel atmosphere.
Airport authorities have also announced improvements in logistics, including the availability of trolleys, streamlined baggage handling, and better queue management at security checkpoints. Collaboration with security forces will strengthen passenger safety while introducing helpdesk facilities to guide travelers efficiently.
Clean Drinking Water, Complaint Redressal, and Guidance
Recognizing the importance of basic amenities, the administration is installing clean drinking water systems and RO facilities. Passengers will also find improved complaint and suggestion mechanisms, including QR codes, the Airsewa app, and dedicated helpdesks.
For first-time air travelers, as well as non-Hindi speaking passengers, guidance services will be available to ensure smooth navigation through the airport processes. This initiative is expected to reduce confusion and anxiety among new flyers, making air travel more inclusive and accessible.
Promoting Local Identity: Himachali Culture and ODOP
The campaign also seeks to promote Himachal Pradesh’s unique identity by integrating cultural elements into the passenger experience. The airport will highlight One District One Product (ODOP) initiatives, encouraging travelers to engage with and purchase local handicrafts, foods, and cultural products. This not only enriches the travel experience but also supports local artisans and entrepreneurs.
Swachhta Hi Seva–2026: Cleanliness as a Collective Responsibility
Running parallel to the passenger service campaign, the Swachhta Hi Seva–2026 initiative underscores the importance of cleanliness and waste management.
- Waste Management & Segregation: The campaign will raise awareness about four-way source segregation of waste, encouraging responsible disposal practices among passengers and staff.
- Community Outreach: Cleanliness drives will extend beyond the airport premises to nearby CTUs (Common Transport Units) and GVPs (Gram Vikas Panchayats), ensuring that surrounding public spaces also benefit from the initiative.
- Respect for Sanitation Workers: Under the Swachhta Hi Samman program, health check-ups and recognition events will be organized for sanitation workers and their families, acknowledging their vital role in maintaining hygiene standards.
Collective Efforts: One Day, One Hour, Together
On October 1, the airport will host the Ek Din, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath program, where airport staff, security personnel, airline representatives, and other stakeholders will participate in a collective cleanliness drive. This symbolic act of unity aims to inspire broader community participation in maintaining clean surroundings.
The following day, October 2 — coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti — special cleanliness activities, tree plantation drives, and a review meeting will be held. These events will reinforce the message of sustainability and environmental responsibility.
Recognition and Sustainability
Airport Director Amit Saklani emphasized that the campaigns are not temporary measures but part of a long-term vision. At the conclusion of the initiatives, employees and stakeholders who demonstrate outstanding contributions will be honored. Furthermore, a permanent plan will be drafted to ensure continuity in cleanliness and passenger service improvements.
Saklani appealed to passengers, local citizens, and all stakeholders to actively support the campaigns, noting that collective participation is essential for their success.
Broader Significance
The dual campaigns at Kangra Airport are emblematic of a larger movement across India to integrate passenger comfort with civic responsibility. By combining cultural promotion, service enhancement, and cleanliness drives, the airport is positioning itself as not just a transit hub but a community-oriented institution.
For Himachal Pradesh, where tourism plays a vital role in the economy, such initiatives are particularly significant. A clean, efficient, and culturally vibrant airport experience can leave lasting impressions on visitors, encouraging repeat travel and positive word-of-mouth promotion.
Conclusion
The Passenger Service Campaign and Swachhta Hi Seva–2026 represent a holistic approach to airport management — one that values passenger satisfaction, cultural identity, and environmental responsibility. Over the next several weeks, Kangra Airport will serve as a model of how infrastructure, community, and culture can converge to create a better travel experience.
As the campaigns unfold, the administration’s emphasis on inclusivity, sustainability, and collective action will likely resonate beyond the airport, inspiring similar initiatives in other regions. For passengers, the message is clear: Kangra Airport is not only a gateway to Himachal Pradesh but also a symbol of service, cleanliness, and cultural pride.
