Barotiwala helipad to be expanded

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, November 4

The upcoming helipad at Barotiwala will have enhanced facilities to ensure air connectivity to the state’s industrial hub of Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN).

Keeping in the view the tourism potential of the state’s industrial hub of Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh, which houses 89 per cent of the state’s industry, the air connectivity will provide big boost to the industry. This is among six heliports to be developed in the state.

Secretary Aviation, Devesh Kumar, who paid a visit to the site at Barotiwala yesterday, explored the possibility of expanding it. Land measuring 5.18 bighas from the Industries Department and 7.18 bighas from the Education Department was being transferred to this project. More land would be provided for the project’s expansion.

The heliport was being developed under the Centrally-sponsored UDAAN-2 scheme. It aims at ensuring affordable air connectivity to people.

Facilities such as fire operation building, passenger terminal building, underground storage tank, chain linking fencing and gates would be provided in the project and now given its expansion a revised project report would be prepared soon.

District Tourism Development Officer, Rati Ram, said funds worth Rs 2.20 crore had already been sanctioned whereby the existing terminal building would be expanded. The boundary walls would also be spruced up, besides developing the H area where the flights land. Though work was delayed due to the Covid-pandemic, it had begun now and would be completed within the next 18 months. Since the area has been covered under the Centrally sponsored UDAAN-II scheme, the state government was keen to make available adequate land for the proposed heliport.

Air connectivity to this industrial belt will benefit the investors especially as a large number of MNCs operate here.