Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh while presiding over the closing ceremony of the week-long Paragliding World cup Championship organised by Bir-Billing Paragliding Association (BPA) and Airport Authority of India (AAI) at Bir -Billing in district Kangra announced the completion of 18 hole Golf course at Bir for which the project work had already been completed.The Chief Minister also announced renaming of Chogan-Kyor road in Bir as Pandit Sant Ram Marg.
Earlier, the Chief Minister laid foundation stone of the National Institute of Paragliding at Bir to cost rupees Nine crore. This Institute would be first of its kind in the Country in the Public sector.
He said that Bir was one of the worlds best Paragliding site and initially Paragliding started here on a small scale. He expressed hope that more pilots would participate in this event in the future. He said that more facilities would be provided to the paragliders in times to come. He also welcomed the foreign nationals who participated in the event and said that Bir-Billing would be made a world class site for the sports lovers and the visitors. He said more Himachali players should get adapted to the game and excel themselves in various sports thereby bringing laurels to the State.As many as 129 pilots from 31 countries including eight Indians participated in this event.Urban Development Minister Shri Sudhir Sharma, who is also the Chairman of BPA, detailed about the week long world cup Paragliding activities. He said that it was a matter of pride for Himachal Pradesh that such a big event was hosted here in which 129 Pilots from around the globe including the countries like USA, France, Israel, Germany, Switzerland etc. He thanked the Chief Minister to grace the occasion.
Local MLA, Shri Kishori Lal welcomed the Chief Minister and other guests on the occasion.Deputy High Commissioner United Kingdom, Mr David, Forest Minister, Shri Thakur Singh Bharmouri, Chairman, Airport Authority of India, Shri R.K.Shrivastva, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Shri Jagjeevan Pal, MLAs, Shri Ajay Mahajan, Shri Sanjay Rattan, Shri Yadvendar Goma, Shri Pawan Kajal, Shri Manohar Dhiman, MLA Goa Shri Micheal Lobo, Chairman, OBC, Shri Chander Kumar, Advisor IT, Shri Gokul Butail, Former MLA Shri Surinder Kaku, Advocate General Shri Shrawan Dogra, Chairman KCCB, Shri Jagdish Sapehiya, Vice-Chairman State Forest Corporation, Shri Kewal Singh Pathania, DC Kangra, Shri Ritesh Chauhan, SP Shri Abhishekh Dullar Vice-Chairman BPA Shri Rajesh Srivastva, Director, Shri Anurag Sharma Paragliding incharge Shri Ranvijay were also present on the occasion amongst others.