Centre Assures Support for Kangra Airport Expansion; CM Sukhu Seeks Special Assistance, Improved Flight Operations

Dharamshala, January 27, 2026: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday met Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu in New Delhi and sought the Centre’s cooperation along with special financial assistance for the long-awaited expansion of Kangra (Gaggal) Airport. Emphasizing the strategic and tourism importance of the airport, the Chief Minister also pressed for the introduction of special Visual Flight Rules (VFR) to permit aircraft operations in low-visibility conditions and urged a reduction in the minimum visibility requirement from the existing 5 km to 2.5 km.
Responding positively, the Union Civil Aviation Minister assured full support to the state government and directed officials to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the airport’s expansion at the earliest.
The demand for expediting the upgradation of Gaggal Airport has been gaining momentum. In July 2025, the Airport Advisory Committee, during its meeting in Dharamshala, strongly advocated fast-tracking the expansion to enable the operation of larger aircraft, ensure safer all-weather flying, and introduce night take-off and landing facilities. The committee also recommended starting direct flight services to Ahmedabad and Mumbai to improve connectivity.
Meanwhile, the state government has already initiated preparatory steps. In its meeting held on September 15, the state Cabinet approved the extension of the land acquisition deadline for the project till June 3, 2026.
To tackle frequent flight cancellations caused by poor visibility in the Kangra Valley, airport authorities are working to reduce the minimum visibility requirement for flight operations from 5 km to 3 km. This follows an agreement with the Indian Air Force (IAF) to release nearly 12 nautical miles of restricted airspace, a move expected to substantially improve operational efficiency during misty and low-visibility conditions.
Then Airport Director Dhirendra Singh had pointed out that the existing visibility requirement was a major bottleneck. “At present, landing requires visibility of 5 km, which is often not available, leading to cancellations. Reducing it to around 3,000–3,500 metres could almost eliminate cancellations and significantly benefit passengers,” he had said.
Presiding over the Airport Advisory Committee meeting, Kangra MP and committee chairman Rajiv Bhardwaj said the Union Government had already approved the airport expansion project and that land acquisition was underway at the district level. He noted that runway constraints were severely limiting air traffic and negatively impacting tourism, especially during peak seasons.
“The expansion will allow the operation of larger aircraft, substantially increase passenger capacity, and give a major boost to the local economy, particularly tourism,” Bhardwaj said.
BJP MP Dr Bhardwaj also reiterated the demand for direct connectivity to Ahmedabad and Mumbai, noting that nearly 18 per cent of tourists visiting the region come from Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Officially known as Kangra–Gaggal Airport, the Dharamshala airport serves Kangra district, including Dharamshala—the winter capital of Himachal Pradesh. Located at Gaggal, about 12 km from Dharamshala on National Highway-154 connecting Pathankot and Mandi, it is the largest airport in the state in terms of passenger traffic and aircraft movement. During 2024–25, the airport handled around 2.1 lakh passengers and recorded over 3,800 aircraft movements.
The airport’s foundation stone was laid by former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on October 15, 1986, and scheduled operations began in 1990 with Vayudoot’s Dornier-228 aircraft. At present, even during peak tourist seasons and favourable weather, only eight flights (16 movements) operate daily, connecting Kangra with Shimla, Delhi, and Chandigarh. However, even slight deterioration in weather often leads to cancellations or aircraft returning mid-way, forcing many passengers—especially those travelling to or from Delhi—to use Amritsar International Airport, causing considerable hardship.
Spread across 1,269 acres at an altitude of 2,492 feet, the airport has a single asphalt runway with parking space for only two turboprop aircraft such as ATR-72 or Dash-8 Q400. The terminal can accommodate merely 100 passengers at a time. Due to the short runway and high altitude, aircraft operate under load penalties, resulting in under-utilisation and higher airfares.
The issue of airport expansion first gained official attention in October 2013, when the Ministry of Civil Aviation proposed a fresh survey. In 2019, land for runway extension was identified, followed by an Obstacle Limitation Surface (OLS) survey conducted by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in March 2021.
AAI subsequently proposed a two-phase expansion plan. Phase-I involves extending the runway from 1,372 metres to 1,900 metres, including the construction of a runway bridge over the Manjhi River, enabling turboprop aircraft to operate at full capacity. Phase-II proposes extending the runway to 3,010 metres, which would allow the operation of narrow-body jet aircraft such as Airbus A-320 and Boeing-737.
The Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Pune, approved the feasibility of the proposed runway bridge in February 2023. Following the formation of the new state government in December 2022 and the declaration of Kangra in Himachal Pradesh’s tourism capital, the airport expansion project has gained renewed momentum.
Once completed, the expansion is expected to significantly enhance air connectivity, boost tourism and economic activity in Kangra district, and serve neighbouring districts including Chamba, Hamirpur, Una, as well as adjoining areas of Punjab such as Pathankot.