Speaking at the foundation-laying ceremony, the Chief Minister announced that the heliport would be completed by April next year.
He said after its completion, helicopter services to Chandigarh and Shimla would be at affordable fares, benefiting residents, tourists and business travellers.
Photo: SNS
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for the Palampur Heliport, a project estimated to cost Rs 19.77 crore. The upcoming facility will include a passenger terminal building, fire station, utility block and various traveller amenities aimed at strengthening air connectivity in the region.
Speaking at the foundation-laying ceremony, the Chief Minister announced that the heliport would be completed by April next year.
He said after its completion, helicopter services to Chandigarh and Shimla would be at affordable fares, benefiting residents, tourists and business travellers.
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Improving connectivity was an essential component of the state government’s broader development strategy for the Kangra district, he added.
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He highlighted that a proposal to develop a tourism village in Palampur had also been prepared with the aim of generating new avenues for income and employment.
However, he expressed concern that some individuals, influenced by those aligned with the BJP, had approached the court and obtained a stay on the project.
He said efforts were underway to resolve the matter so that development work could continue smoothly.
Reiterating the government’s commitment, he said the Kangra district would be promoted as the Tourism Capital of the state.
Earlier, the Chief Minister inspected the Community Health Centre (CHC) at Gopalpur, where he interacted with patients and staff to review the functioning of the health facility.
He said the state government had made a provision of Rs. 3,000 crore to enhance healthcare services, from medical colleges to district and regional hospitals across Himachal Pradesh.
New and advanced medical equipment was being installed to ensure that people receive quality healthcare within the state and do not have to travel outside for specialised treatment.
MLA Ashish Butail welcomed the Chief Minister and informed the gathering that he would soon undertake an extensive tour of the area to dedicate various development projects worth around Rs. 300 crore.
He added that the Chief Minister had assured funding for the construction of a new building at the CHC Gopalpur, along with provisions for a digital X-ray facility and an ambulance to further strengthen local healthcare services.
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