Heliport to come up in Palampur, to provide chopper services to Shimla, Chandigarh

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu laid the foundation stone of a heliport at Palampur in Kangra district on Tuesday. The heliport to be constructed at a cost of Rs 19.77 crore would include a passenger terminal building, fire station, utility building and other essential facilities for travellers.

The Chief Minister, while addressing the gathering after the foundation stone ceremony, said that the heliport would be completed by April next year. Once operational, helicopter services connecting Palampur to Chandigarh and Shimla at affordable fares would begin.

He said that a proposal to develop a tourism village in Palampur was also ready but some individuals, allegedly under the influence of the BJP, had approached court, resulting in a stay. Efforts were underway to remove these legal hurdles, he added.

Sukhu reiterated the government’s commitment to promote Kangra as the tourism capital of Himachal, opening new avenues of income and employment for local residents.

Earlier, he inspected a Community Health Centre (CHC) at Gopalpur and interacted with patients and the medical staff. He said that a provision of Rs 3,000 crore had been made to strengthen health facilities in all medical colleges and other hospitals in the state. Advanced medical equipment was being installed to ensure that people receive quality healthcare within the state, he added

Local MLA Ashish Butail said that the Chief Minister had approved funds for a new CHC building, along with a digital X-ray facility and an ambulance in the CHC at Gopalpur.