Shimla airport runway 300-m short: Experts
Shimla, August 8
The airport at Jubbarhatti in Shimla district, located 2,196 metres above the sea level, is one of the country’s ‘riskiest’ table-top airports similar to the one in Kozhikode and requires timely expansion. The runway here is around 300 metres short of the standard length of 1,500 metres, aviation experts said on Saturday.
Minimum airstrip length is 1,500 m
The runway expansion has been facing abnormal delays due to the nearby forest area and private land. For the runway extension, the minimum required length is 1,500 metres, which enables a 40-seater aircraft to operate as per the new safety norms. — State Civil Aviation Official
On an average, 12 to 15 unscheduled domestic flights arrive at this airport every month, said state civil aviation officials. Also, a heli-taxi service was being operated from here regularly under the Udan-II scheme, they added.
The officials said that they had raised the issue with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) a number of times to explore the possibility of the expansion of the airstrip at Jubbarhatti, around 22 km from here, to facilitate safe landings of aircraft.
“At present, the runway at the airport is less than 1,200-metre long and its expansion has been facing abnormal delays due to the nearby forest area and private land. For the runway extension, the minimum required length is 1,500 metres, which enables a 40-seater aircraft to operate as per the new safety norms,” a state civil aviation official said.
In 2015, national carrier Air India’s subsidiary Alliance Air conducted a test-flight to restart regular services between New Delhi and Shimla. The trial run of a 42-seat plane was successful.
The officials said landing an aircraft at the Shimla airport was a big challenge because of the gorges surrounding the runway. Likewise, the airstrip in Kullu town runs parallel to the Beas river.
“Though various safety measures have been adopted at the Shimla airport, the runway should be expanded on priority, keeping in view the safety of the passengers,” an airport official said.
The state government has plans to develop a world-class airport in Mandi district to boost the tourism industry. The Civil Aviation Ministry last year gave in-principle approval to the construction of the airport.
The state’s third airport is located at Gaggal, near Dharamsala, in Kangra district. — IANS
