Dharamshala: Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu during his one day visit here emphasized his government’s commitment to making Kangra the tourism capital of Himachal Pradesh.
In a review meeting held at the Mini Secretariat, the Chief Minister outlined key projects that would play a pivotal role in achieving this goal, including a zoo in Bankhandi, water sports facilities at Pong Lake, the expansion of Kangra Airport, and the establishment of a state-of-the-art milk plant in Dhagwar.
The Chief Minister assured that he would personally monitor the progress of these prects. He particularly highlighted the importance of the Kangra Airport expansion, stating that it would significantly enhance the region’s tourism potential. Currently, the airport’s runway length is 1376 meters, and under the expansion plan, it will be extended to 3010 meters to accommodate larger aircraft. The expansion requires the acquisition of land from 14 revenue villages across 8 panchayats.
Sukhu further stated that by March 2025, flights would begin operating at the Kangra Airport from sunrise to sunset, with the approval already secured. To ensure smooth operations, the state government will provide additional security forces to the Airport Authority.
Regarding the land acquisition for the expansion, the Chief Minister confirmed that compensation payments for displaced families are underway, with 50% of the compensation expected to be distributed by December. He also mentioned that night-time landing facilities would be available at the expanded airport.
Additionally, the CM spoke about the ongoing four-laning of roads in Kangra and emphasized the need to focus on developing roadside amenities. He also announced that work on a heliport in Palampur would commence immediately, with an approved budget of ₹13 crore.
In his review of the advanced milk plant being built in Dhagwar, the Chief Minister stated that the project, with an investment of over ₹225 crore, would produce a variety of dairy products. He also directed that the collection of milk from cows and buffaloes be kept separate to maintain quality.
The review meeting was attended by several key officials, including Ayush Minister Yadwinder Goma, Tourism Development Corporation Chairman R.S. Bali, Deputy Chief Whip Keval Singh Pathania, CPS Kishori Lal, Political Advisor to the CM Sunil Sharma Bittu, MLA Neeraj Nair, IT Advisor Gokul Butel, former MLA Ajay Mahajan, and District Commissioner Hem Raj Bairwa, along with other department official
