Himachal Pradesh Government to build international airport near Shimla

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh), Oct. 26 (ANI): The Government of Himachal Pradesh has announced plans to build an international airport near state capital Shimla.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said 200 bighas of land has been identified at three places in Shimla and Solan Districts and a final decision on the project would be taken soon.

He also announced that ten more helipads would be set up in Sirmour, Kinnaur and Mandi Districts, increasing the total strength of helipads in the state to 70.

Heli-taxi services in the state would be started in December 2011.

He said that the state government would also forward a request to the railway ministry to start heritage trains on UNESCO heritage sites such as the Shimla-Kalka and the Pathankot-Joginder Nagar railway lines.

He revealed that all important religious and tourist places would be connected through rope ways.

Himachal Tourism would participate in all the international tourism fairs and festivals in India and abroad to show case its rich cultural heritage, he concluded. (ANI)