Himachal to set up Rs 1k cr intl airport near Shimla

In a bid to make the state a global tourist attraction, Himachal Pradesh government has said it will set up its first international airport near Shimla, with about Rs 1,000 crore investment, under public private partnership mode.

The state government has initiated a slew of steps to promote tourism to increase its contribution to GDP to 10 per cent from the present 8.5 per cent, Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said at an investment meet here last night.

The tourism sector contributes about Rs 3,600 crore to the Rs 44,000 crore state GDP.
    
Among the measures to promote tourism, the government has identified 40 acres each at three places in Shimla and Solan (near Shimla) districts to set up the Rs 1,000 crore international airport.
    
The final decision on the spot would be taken soon, Dhumal said.
    
Besides, the number of helipads in the state would be increased to 70 from the existing 60, he added. The government plans to set up these 10 helipads at Sirmour, Kinnaur and Mandi districts.
    
Dhumal said the government has identified three heli-taxi operators and is likely to sign pact with them within a month for connecting all district headquarters through these services.
    
He said that for better railway connectivity in the hill state, the state government will request Ministry of Railways to start heritage trains on UNESCO heritage sites, Shimla -Kalka and Pathankot-Joginder Nagar railway lines for the tourists.
    
The government has also decided to clear tourism infrastructure projects exceeding Rs 50 crore investment for single window clearance, Dhumal said.
    
Inviting private sector to participate in tourism growth, he said the state has shortfall of 15,000 bed capacity in peak season and invited the pvt sector for investment in hospitality sector to meet this demand.
    
Expression of interests for setting up hotels, amusement parks, film studios and the like would be invited shortly from private parties while the state government has land bank at various districts to meet the investors requirements.
    
Golf courses at Baddi and Manali, under the public private partnership (PPP) mode, are also on the anvil.
    
Other plans include connecting all important religious and tourist places situated at heights.
    
State's huge potential in tourism, Dhumal said, could be understood from the fact that it registered 15 percent  growth during worldwide recession period. The state witnessed 79 lakh tourists in January-September period.