Kangra Airport

Kangra Airport
Summary
Airport typeMilitary/Public
Owner/OperatorAirports Authority of India
ServesKangra
LocationKangra, Himachal Pradesh, India
Built1986; 38 years ago (1986)
In use1990–present
Time zoneIndian Standard Time (+5:30)
Elevation AMSL770 m / 2,525 ft
Coordinates32°9′54″N 76°15′48″E / 32.16500°N 76.26333°E / 32.16500; 76.26333
WebsiteKangra Airport
Map
DHM is located in Himachal Pradesh
DHM
DHM
DHM is located in India
DHM
DHM
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
15/33 1,372 4,501 Asphalt
Statistics (April 2023 - March 2024)
Passengers201,391 (Increase 14.3%)
Aircraft movement4,208 (Increase 11.1%)
Cargo tonnage—
Source: AAI[1][2][3]

Kangra-Gaggal Airport[4] (IATA: DHM, ICAO: VIGG), officially known as Kangra Airport, is a domestic airport serving areas of Kangra including Dharamshala, the winter capital of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is located at Gaggal, which is situated 12 km (7.5 mi) from the city, 8 km (5.0 mi) from Kangra and 14 km (8.7 mi) from Kangra Railway Station. The airport is located on National Highway 154, that runs between Pathankot and Mandi, and is the largest airport in Himachal Pradesh in terms of passengers and aircraft movement, handling over 200,000 passengers and over 4,200 aircraft in FY 2023-24.[1][2]

History

The foundation of Kangra Airport was laid down by Virbhadra Singh, the then Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, on 15 October 1986.[5] The first scheduled operation at this airport was by Vayudoot with a Dornier 228 in the 1990. Subsequently, other airlines like Jagson, Air Deccan and Kingfisher also operated from the airport. In 2001, the airport was renamed as Kangra Airport.[6] In March 2007, the runway was extended from 910 to 1,370 m (3,000 to 4,500 ft) and a new terminal building was inaugurated.[7] As a result, for the first time an ATR-42 aircraft of Air Deccan landed at the airport on 28 March 2007. Following this, other airlines also started operating on this route, with SpiceJet and Alliance Air starting from 2013. As of April 2024, three airlines operate regularly to and from the airport–Alliance Air, IndiGo and SpiceJet.

Structure

The airport, spread over 1,269 acres (514 ha) at an altitude of 2,492 ft (760 m) has one asphalt runway, oriented 15/33, 1,372 by 30 m (4,501 by 98 ft). Its 91 by 61 m (300 by 200 ft) apron provides parking space for two turboprop aircraft, like the ATR 72, and Dash 8 Series 400, while its terminal building can handle 100 passengers, 50 in the arrival area and 50 in the departure area. Due to its shorter runway as well as high altitude, the airport has a load penalty and aircraft at this airport are not allowed to take-off with full capacity, leading to under-utilization and higher airfares on this route.

Navigational aids include precision approach path indicator (PAPI) lights and VHF omnidirectional range (DVOR).[8] The DVOR was installed in 2016, which reduced the minimum runway visibility requirement for aircraft landing at the airport from 5,000 to 2,400 m (16,400 to 7,900 ft). The airport falls in Category II(c) of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards due to limited instrument landing system (ILS) capabilities.

Expansion plans and delays

In October 2013, for first time, the issue of expansion of Kangra Airport came up officially, when Ministry of Civil Aviation hinted at expanding Gaggal Airport and conducting a fresh survey for expansion of the airport.[9] In August 2014, the District Administration was ordered to carry out the expansion survey and wrote to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in this regard.[10] Following this, a team of AAI Officials visited the airport in May 2015 for feasibility study and identification of land required.[11]

In 2019, the team visited the adjacent area of the airport and identified the land for expanding the runway from 1,370 to 1,920 m (4,490 to 6,300 ft). However, this proposed expansion would require total of 140 ha (350 acres) and would mean displacement of almost all of the Gaggal Township which is located about 2 km (1.2 mi) from the Airport and lies directly in the proposed path of airstrip expansion. As a result, in January and February 2020, there were demonstrations by the locals against the government.[12]

In March 2021, an Obstruction Level Survey (OLS) for proposed expansion was carried out by AAI.[13] In the revised survey of AAI, the length of runway was to be expanded to 1,900 m (6,200 ft), by first constructing a bridge over the Manjhi River, which flows in between the Gaggal township and the airport. Thereafter, the runway is to be expanded to 3,010 m (9,880 ft) by acquiring the land beyond Gaggal township, cutting through National Highway 154, which would also require the realignment of the highway. A total of Rs 400 Crores were recommended by the Fifteenth Finance Commission for the expansion of Kangra Airport, which have been granted by the Central Government.
In March 2022, AAI came up with a two phase expansion plan for Kangra Airport.[14]

  • In Phase 1, the runway is to be expanded by around 600 m (2,000 ft), from current 1,372 to 1,900 m (4,501 to 6,234 ft), which would require construction of a runway bridge over the Manjhi River, just short of Gaggal township. If first phase is completed, it will help turboprop airplanes in taking off and landing at the Gaggal airport with full capacity without load penalty.
  • In Phase 2, the runway is to be increased by 1,110 m (3,640 ft), taking the increased length of runway from 1,900 to 3,010 m (6,230 to 9,880 ft). This expansion will enable narrow bodied turbofan aircraft like Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 to easily operate from this airport. This would not only provide a major boost to the tourism sector for Kangra district, but would also serve Chamba, Hamirpur and Una districts.

In November 2022, CWPRS, Pune was consulted to study the feasibility of constructing runway bridge over Manjhi River, which gave its nod in this regard in a report submitted to state Government in February 2023.[15] Meanwhile, after State Assembly elections and formation of new Government in December 2022, Kangra District was identified to be developed as Tourism Capital of the state. Consequently, the expansion of Kangra Airport got a new impetus. Further, it was also decided to complete the land acquisition process for both phases simultaneously.[16] In this regard, in March 2023, the Social Impact Assessment of the expansion project was ordered by the Government to be carried by Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration(HIPA).[17] In order to complete the land acquisition proceedings and start the expansion work as soon as possible, the State Government in Budget 2023-24 allocated Rs 2000 Crore for this purpose.[18] In April 2023, under the provisions of Land Acquisition Act-2013, an Expert Appraisal Committee(EAC) was constituted under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner(Relief and Rehabilitation), Raja ka Talab, to study the SIA report. The EAC will submit its recommendations to Government regarding the relief and compensation to be provided to the displaced population in the expansion project.[19] In May 2023 the EAC in its meeting discussed the various issues regarding expansion of Airport and also sought Techno-feasibility report as well as Environment Impact Assessment report from the Government.[20] In June 2023, in a Cabinet meeting, the State Government gave approval for land acquisition in this regard.[21] In July 2023, the Notification to acquire the said land was issued by Government under Section 11 of Land Acquisition Act-2013. [22]

Proposed expansion plans

In 2021, three expansion plans were drawn out. Of them, the following Plan was finalized and revenue department was accordingly tasked to carry out the surveys and prepare report on the total additional land to be acquired. A total of 147.7587 hectares of land is being affected under the expansion of the airport in 14 villages of Shahpur and Kangra tehsil of district Kangra, out of which 25.1064 hectares (16.99 percent) of land is government land, remaining (83.02 percent) 122.6623 hectares of land belongs to private farmers. The expansion project will cause displacement of around 1446 families.

  • Expansion Plan (Final)
    Expansion Plan (Final)

Airlines and destinations

AirlinesDestinations
Alliance Air Delhi, Shimla[23]
Seasonal: Jaipur
IndiGoChandigarh,[24] Delhi,[25] Jaipur[24]
SpiceJetDelhi

Statistics

Annual passenger traffic at DHM airport. See Wikidata query.

References

  1. ^ a b "Annexure III - Passenger Data" (PDF). www.aai.aero. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Annexure II - Aircraft Movement Data" (PDF). www.aai.aero. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  3. ^ "Annexure IV - Freight Movement Data" (PDF). www.aai.aero. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Kangra Airport". Airports Authority of India. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  5. ^ "Kangra Airport". Airports Authority of India. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  6. ^ "Kangra Airport". Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  7. ^ "Fly Kangra to Delhi every day". The Tribune. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Himachal's 1st instrumental landing tech at Kangra airport". The Times of India. 9 July 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  9. ^ "Center likely to approve expansion of Gaggal airport". The Times of India. 13 October 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  10. ^ "Kangra Airport". Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  11. ^ "Kangra airport set for expansion". The Times of India. 17 May 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  12. ^ "Gaggal shuts against expansion of airport". Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  13. ^ "Kangra Airport Extension". Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  14. ^ "Himachal's Gaggal airport to be expanded in 2 phases". Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  15. ^ "Kangra airport expansion: Pune institute gives nod to runway bridge over Manjhi". 23 February 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  16. ^ "Approval for Survey of Kangra Airport; Preparation for Land Acquisition of Both Phases Simultaneously". 24 February 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  17. ^ "Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration to conduct SIA for Kangra airport within a month". The Times of India. 4 March 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  18. ^ "कांगड़ा एयरपोर्ट विस्तार पर सरकार की मुहर; 2 हजार करोड़ बजट, 3110 मीटर लंबा होगा रन-वे". Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  19. ^ "Kangra Airport: कांगड़ा एयरपोर्ट विस्तार के बीच EAC का किया गया गठन". Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  20. ^ "प्रदेश सरकार से मांगी जाएंगी दो अहम रिपोर्ट, कांगड़ा एयरपोर्ट विस्तारीकरण को एक्सपट्र्स का मंथन". 13 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  21. ^ "Cabinet okays land acquisition for Gaggal airport expansion". The Times of India. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  22. ^ "Preliminary Notification for land acquisition for Gaggal Airport expansion". Rajpatra Of Himachal Pradesh. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  23. ^ "From Dec 9, fly to Kullu, Dharamshala from Shimla". The Indian Express. 4 December 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  24. ^ a b "IndiGo to launch 2nd Route from Dharamshala, From April 2, the airline will connect Chandigarh to Dharamshala". JetArena. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  25. ^ "INDIGO 1H23 DOMESTIC ROUTES ADDITION SUMMARY – 05MAR23". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 7 March 2023.