Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur in a meeting with Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at New Delhi on Thursday, raised the issue of setting up of an international level airport in Himachal Pradesh which could also be important from strategic point of view.
The Chief Minister apprised the Union Minister that an international level airport is proposed to be constructed in Mandi district for which 3479 bighas of land has been identified at Nagchala. A team of Airport Authority of India has inspected this land and after survey it has been found suitable for constructing the airport.
Jai Ram Thakur said that Mandi district is centrally located and approachable from the border regions. He said that except for Chandigarh, there is no other defence airport available in the region for armed and defence campaigns. Therefore, setting up of a defence airport would be an effective step from strategic point of view. Besides, it would also help in giving boost to tourism sector and economy of the state. He urged the Union Minister to develop this airport as defence airport.
Rajnath Singh assured the Chief Minister that the government of India would consider this demand seriously.
CM calls on Union Law Minister
Later on, the Chief Minister also called on Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and invited him to visit Himachal Pradesh.
MPs Ram Swaroop Sharma, Kishan Kapoor and Suresh Kashyap, Additional Chief Secretary Dr. Shrikant Baldi, Additional Principal Secretary to the CM Sanjay Kundu and Principal Private Secretary to the CM Vinay Singh were also present on this occasion.