In a major push to air connectivity and tourism in Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday flagged off heli taxi services linking Shimla with Kullu, Reckong Peo in Kinnaur, and Chandigarh. The services were inaugurated from the Sanjauli Heliport in the state capital.
The heli taxi services are being operated under the Centre’s UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik) scheme in partnership with Heritage Aviation. The initiative aims to improve air connectivity in hilly and remote regions.
Speaking to mediapersons after the launch, Sukhu said tourism remains a key priority for the state government. He said the new heli services would give a fresh push to Himachal Pradesh’s tourism and transport infrastructure.
“Our government is working to strengthen tourism by fully utilising Himachal Pradesh’s natural beauty. Tourism not only generates revenue but also creates employment for local people,” the Chief Minister said.
Taking a swipe at the previous BJP government, Sukhu alleged that it focused on constructing buildings worth thousands of crores without ensuring their proper use.
He claimed that buildings worth nearly ₹3,500 crore were constructed earlier, many of which are lying unused. Sukhu said the present government believes in creating functional infrastructure that directly benefits people and supports economic growth.
The Chief Minister said the Sanjauli Heliport, whose foundation stone was laid during the tenure of former chief minister Virbhadra Singh, remained incomplete for several years due to lack of funds. He said the current Congress government completed the project by coordinating with state and central civil aviation authorities and ensuring safety compliance.
Sukhu praised Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi for consistently advocating air connectivity to the tribal district of Kinnaur. He said the inclusion of Reckong Peo in the heli network would benefit residents, tourists and patients needing quick medical access.
He also thanked Tourism Development Corporation Chairman Raghubir Singh Bali for pursuing the matter with the Union Civil Aviation Ministry, which helped secure approvals for new heliports in the state.
The Chief Minister said the state government has approved ₹15 crore for each heliport. He added that four new heliports at Hamirpur, Palampur, Rakad in Kangra district and Chamba are expected to be completed by March–April next year.
He said plans are also in place to develop heliports in Solan and Sirmaur districts with assistance from the central government. However, Sukhu pointed out that helicopter services in mountainous regions depend heavily on weather conditions and cannot operate throughout the year.
“Due to turbulence and adverse weather, helicopter services cannot run all 365 days. But whenever they operate, people should make full use of them,” he said.
Meanwhile, Heritage Aviation Chief Executive Officer Rohit Mathur said the company has been awarded the Shimla–Kullu and Shimla–Reckong Peo routes under the UDAN scheme, and operations began on Wednesday.
Mathur said the services will run daily, with two flights a day on the Shimla–Kullu route and one daily flight on the Shimla–Reckong Peo route. Six-seater Airbus H125 helicopters will be used.
He said fares have been fixed at ₹3,500 for Shimla–Kullu and ₹4,000 for Shimla–Reckong Peo. The pricing is subsidised through a partnership between the Himachal Pradesh government and the operator, and tickets can be booked online.
Due to limited space in helicopters, passengers will be allowed to carry only 5 kg of hand baggage, Mathur said.
Calling the Sanjauli Heliport a modern facility, Mathur said all required approvals from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) were obtained after due process.
“The heliport has good infrastructure and strong safety arrangements. Although approvals took time, everything is now in place. Given Himachal Pradesh’s tourism potential, we are confident of a positive response,” he said.
The launch of the heli taxi services is expected to reduce travel time, improve access to remote areas and offer a faster travel option for tourists, business travellers and patients across the state.
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