Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today held a meeting with Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati, the Union Minister for Civil Aviation here in New Delhi and discussed various issues of state’s concern including the early resumption of flights to Shimla Airport.Virbhadra Singh particularly discussed the issue of early resumption of flights to Shimla and raised his concern with the Minister that despite various requests in this regard, Airport Authority of India has done nothing to find out the viability for the early resumption of the flights. He apprised that the Shimla Airport was constructed in the year 1987 and regular flights were operated by different airlines like Vayu Doot, Jagson Airlines, Air Deccan and Kingfisher Airlines till September, 2012 without any Viability Gap Funding (VGF) or other assistance from the State Govt. Expressing his serious concern over the reluctant attitude of the Airport Authority for not providing air connectivity to the capital of the Himachal Pradesh which is also known as ‘Queen of Hills’ and international tourist destination, Sh. Virbhadra Singh said that the work of widening of runway of Shimla Airport has been completed to meet the requirement of landing of ATR-72. He urged the Union Minister to personally intervene in this matter and efforts be made to give priority to start flights on the North-East pattern as soon as possible so that better connectivity could be provided to the tourists and other needy people of the State.
Virbhadra Singh also raised the matter of strengthening the Gaggal and Kullu Airports and apprised the Union Minister that State Govt. was providing cheapest fuel facility in the State and charging only 1% vat on Civil Aviation Fuel which is lowest in the country. He also assured the Minister that State Govt. was ready to provide other facilities required for the strengthening of the air services keeping in view the inflow of tourists to the State. He also urged the Union Minister to reduce the air fare on the North-East Pattern keeping in view the priority of the Union Govt. to provide better regional connectivity in the Country.Virbhadra Singh also apprised the Union Minister that Govt. of Himachal Pradesh has submitted a project worth of Rs. 100 crore under the scheme of Swadesh Dharshan initiated by Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India, to increase the infrastructural facilities in the tourism sector in the State. He urged the Minister that proposal may be expedited for early release of funds in this scheme.
Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati the Union Civil Aviation Minister directed the senior officers of Airport Authority and the Ministry to explore the possibility to start early flights to Shimla under the regional connectivity scheme to be notified soon. He also assured the Chief Minister that no discrimination with any state would be made in providing better connectivity in the larger interest of the people of the Country.Sh. R.K. Srivastava, the Chairman of Airport Authority of India apprised in the meeting that viabilities were being explored to strengthen the services in the State. Sh. R.N.Choubey, the Secretary of Civil Aviation said that the Ministry was contemplating to start Regional Connectivity Scheme very soon with a view to provide cheap and better air services to the people of the Country. He urged the Chief Minister to come forward to sign a MoU on this scheme so that Himachal could get better facilities in this field.Sh. T.G. Negi, Principal Advisor to Chief Minister and Mr. A.P. Singh the Resident Commissioner of H.P. also attended the meeting.