The Tribune Impact: HPTDC takes charge of paragliding school

The Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) has assumed control of the Bir Billing Paragliding School buildings, which had been lying unused since their construction in 2021. Two rooms of the complex will remain under the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Manali.

The Tourism Department had spent over Rs 8 crore, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), on this property. Initially, the foundation stone for the project was laid by former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh in 2015, with completion planned within two years.

However, the facility remained locked for three years, despite being built to international standards with 24 suites, dormitories, halls, classrooms, lawns and parking. Recently, The Tribune highlighted the neglect of this property, prompting Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to intervene and direct immediate action.

A senior HPTDC officer noted that the building requires renovation, furniture and layout adjustments to be operational. The HPTDC aims to complete these changes within three months.

The delay in utilising the property, despite directives from the Chief Minister in October 2023, had already drawn criticism as the state continued to pay interest on the ADB loan used to fund the project.