HC seeks reply on Delhi-Shimla flight service

A division bench comprising the Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, during hearing of the petition, noted that even after a high level committee was set-up by the court during an earlier hearing, the flight service has not resumed for Shimla.

Chief Secretary P Mitra informed the bench that Air India’s Chairman, who was approached by the government, has expressed possibility of starting flights (ATR 42-320 aircraft ) by Alliance Air –a subsidiary of Air India if operational facilities for a smooth and safe operations were provided at the airport.

“It was decided in the meeting with central government and Air India officials that the DG civil aviation will conduct a follow-up meeting with other non-scheduled operators (NSOP) to check whether they are ready to operate smaller planes from Shimla by next week. The state of Himachal Pradesh will consider viability gap funding to NSOPs,” he informed the court.

According to Mitra, it was also decided that the AAI will take action to increase the width of runway and improving safety standards, while the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas may take up the arrangement of fuel facility with Himachal Pradesh government.