Come July, high-end tourists can fly in helicopter to Shimla as DGCA gives clearance to new heliport
The Sanjauli heliport in Himachal Pradesh capital Shimla is set to commence flight operations next month, following a successful inspection by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) team.
The DGCA team, which visited the heliport two days ago, expressed satisfaction with the arrangements. The DGCA will now prepare a report and issue a licence to the Tourism Department, paving the way for the heliport’s operation.
The Chief Minister’s helicopter will also operate from the Sanjauli heliport, which is expected to significantly enhance tourism activities in Shimla. Additionally, the heliport will facilitate the airlifting of patients during health emergencies to PGI-Chandigarh and AIIMS-Delhi.
The Sanjauli heliport was inaugurated by former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur in 2022. After a two-year wait and addressing several objections raised by the DGCA, the heliport is now ready for operations.
Objections regarding the installation of nets on the sides of the heliport and the appointment of staff have been resolved. The Tourism Department has outsourced staff deployment to the Electronics Development Corporation.
The construction of the heliport involved an investment of Rs 12.13 crore under the Himalayan Circuit Swadesh Darshan Yojana and Rs 6 crore under the Udaan-2 Yojana. Flights will be operated from the heliport under the Government of India’s Udaan-2 scheme.
The commencement of flights from Sanjauli heliport is expected to provide a significant boost to Shimla’s tourism industry. High-end tourists can now reach Shimla directly, bypassing the need to land at Jubbarhatti Airport, which is 30 km from the city and requires an additional one-and-a-half-hour taxi journey to Shimla.
With the opening of the Sanjauli heliport, Shimla is poised to become an even more attractive destination for tourists, enhancing convenience and accessibility.
