HC notice on Shimla airport's closure

The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Monday granted two weeks time to remove deficiencies as pointed out by a team of the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in restarting Shimla's Jubbarhatti airport.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan passed these orders on a writ petition filed by Paras Dhaulta, who alleged that no flights have been operating since September 2012.

The petitioner said tourism has been severally hit despite spending huge amounts on the airport's maintenance by the Airport Authority of India (AAI).

The AAI in its reply said it was taking up the shortcomings at the airport with the authorities concerned.

The bench listed the matter for next hearing on November 18.

Official sources said the Jubbarhatti airport, located 2,196 metres above sea level, has been shut for scheduled flights since September 6, 2012, affecting the flow of both tourists and businessmen to the hill state.

However, airports at Kullu and Dharamsala in the state have been functioning.

--Indo-Asian news Service

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