Heli taxis to connect more Himachal towns

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 7

The government has decided to appoint an aviation consultant as talks will be held with 18 operators, who have evinced keen interest in providing the services in more areas.

The state government is in the process of appointing an aviation consultant who will prepare the roadmap for the expansion of air connectivity. It is being felt that good air connectivity in the form of heli-taxi service and regular flights connecting the main tourist towns of Manali, Dharamsala, Dalhousie and Shimla is a prerequisite for tourism promotion.

The government’s invite has evoked good response and 18 operators have expressed interest. A meeting will be held with these operators on July 20 to examine their proposals and its technical and economic feasibility.

The heli-taxi between Shimla and Chandigarh is operating thrice a week and plans are afoot to launch a service shortly between Manali and Rohtang for which trials have already been held. The service will help take the burden off the 51-km stretch between Manali and Rohtang, as the number of vehicles which can ply on this route has been frozen at 1,200 by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

The Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation is keen on chopper services for Manimahesh, old Chamunda and other shrines. The main objective is to give a fillip to temple tourism. The immense tourism potential in the Buddhist circuit in the tribal districts of Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti too can be tapped only with the help of reliable air connectivity.

The state already has a network of 56 helipads which can be used for launching heli-taxi services. As of now, the regular air connectivity is available from the three airports at Gaggal in Kangra, Bhuntar in Kullu and Jubbarhatti in Shimla. Work on a heliport near Dhalli, on the outskirts of the town, is underway which will help popularise the heli-taxi service from Shimla.

At present, one has to travel all the way to Jubbarhatti airport, 23 km from Shimla, to avail the heli-taxi service. This is a major drawback as one will prefer to take the service if the airport or heliport is located in the vicinity of the city.

On the cards...

• Flights connecting Manali, Dharamsala, Dalhousie and Shimla is a prerequisite for tourism promotion
• A meeting will be held with these operators on July 20 to examine their proposals
• Plans are on to launch the service shortly between Manali and Rohtang
• The heli-taxi services will help take the burden off the 51-km stretch between Manali and Rohtang
• The govt is keen on chopper services for Manimahesh, old Chamunda and other shrines
• A heliport near Dhalli is underway which will help popularise the service from Shimla