Himachal to launch new flight routes connecting Chandigarh, Kullu, Dharamshala, BA

In an effort to enhance tourism in Himachal Pradesh, the state government is planning to introduce new flight routes connecting Chandigarh, Kullu, and Dharamsala, officials announced on Friday. Discussions are already underway with airlines and other stakeholders to launch flights on these routes. The direct flight between Kullu and Dharamshala is expected to greatly benefit the tourism sector, fulfilling a long-standing demand from visitors, as per a statement released here.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu highlighted the government’s dedication to attracting high-end tourists to the state. “Improving air connectivity is essential to accomplish our tourism objectives and reducing travel time and expenses for tourists is crucial,” he stated.

“Himachal Pradesh boasts stunning landscapes and holds great tourism potential. Incremental development of tourism infrastructure will not only increase tourist arrivals but also boost the local economy,” CM Sukhu emphasized.

Currently, there are four flight routes operational, connecting some popular tourist destinations in the state with other parts of the country. Flights on the Delhi-Shimla-Delhi and Shimla-Dharamsala-Shimla routes operate daily, while the Amritsar-Shimla-Amritsar and Amritsar-Kullu-Amritsar routes run thrice a week.

In addition to expanding flight routes, the Himachal Pradesh government is also constructing new heliports to further enhance air connectivity for tourists, the statement mentioned. “An allocation of INR 13 crore has been made for the construction of heliports in Rakkar and Palampur in Kangra district, Reckong Peo in Kinnaur district, and another in Chamba district,” it stated. “The mountainous terrain of Himachal Pradesh makes the construction of heliports advantageous,” added the chief minister. “These heliports will attract more tourists by saving travel time and will also offer assistance to local residents in case of emergencies,” he added.

The more tourists we attract, the more benefits will be reaped by the people of the state, Sukhu remarked, mentioning that the state government was focused on establishing these heliports to ensure that each district headquarters was connected to this facility. Additionally, Kangra district has been declared the tourism capital of Himachal Pradesh by the state government, which is upgrading the necessary tourism infrastructure in the district, the statement noted.