Himachal Pradesh is all set to get its own international airport, which is proposed to be constructed at Nagchala in Mandi district. The Airports Authority of India (AAI), in its pre-feasibility report, found the location suitable for building the new airport.
Himachal Pradesh will have its own international airport in the ensuing years and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has selected Nagchala in Mandi district suitable for the construction of the proposed airport.(informations only.com)
Jai Ram Thakur, Chief Minister, Himachal Pradesh, has informed that the authority has identified Nagchala in Mandi district as the best suitable place for developing the international airport. An Obstacle Limitation Surface (OLS) survey for the international airport was carried out in December 2018, following which the AAI found the location feasibility was high in its pre-emptive report.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/g9NyD-XNrcg?autoplay=0&mute=1 Thakur added that based on the OLS survey, the proposed international airport with 2,100 m-long runaway would be utilised for managing unidirectional operations initially. The Himachal Pradesh government had discovered around 3,490 bighas of land for building the airport in Mandi district. Of the total identified land, about 3,160 bighas of land is owned by private players while 330 bighas of land fall under the ambit of the State government.(informations only.com)
Himachal Pradesh has three airports at Shimla, Gaggal in Kangra district, and Bhunter in Kullu district but none of these airports is big enough or well-equipped to land heavy duty aircraft and international flights. Domestic flights avail the services of Gaggal airport while Shimla and Bhunter airports do not provide regular flight services to accommodate a large number of passengers.