CM Sukhu launches Sanjhauli helicopter routes, eyes 3 new heliports
Synopsis
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has launched helicopter services from Sanjhauli to Rampur and Reckong Peo, announced heliports for Hamirpur, Chamba and Palampur by March 2027, and unveiled plans for a large Tara Devi heliport to boost Shimla-Chandigarh air connectivity and tourism.
Key Takeaways
Helicopter services from Sanjhauli to Rampur and Reckong Peo are already operational as of October 2026.
Heliport services in Hamirpur , Chamba , and Palampur are targeted for launch by March 2027 .
A large heliport near Tara Devi is planned to strengthen the Shimla-Chandigarh air corridor.
The moves sit within the Central government's UDAN regional connectivity scheme, which has subsidised Himalayan helicopter routes since 2016 .
Reckong Peo , headquarters of remote Kinnaur district , gains direct aerial access to Shimla, benefiting both residents and tourists.
The announcements position tourism-led growth as the primary economic rationale for the air-connectivity expansion.
Helicopter rotors are cutting new corridors through the Himalayas. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced on Sunday, 25 October 2026 that helicopter services from Sanjhauli to Rampur and Reckong Peo have been launched — and that is only the opening move in a broader air-connectivity push for the mountain state.
Posting in Hindi, CM Sukhu outlined three connected steps: 'हवाई कनेक्टिविटी को मजबूत करने और पर्यटन को नई गति देने की दिशा में हम निरंतर आगे बढ़ रहे हैं' ('We are continuously moving forward to strengthen air connectivity and give new momentum to tourism'). The Sanjhauli-Rampur and Sanjhauli-Reckong Peo helicopter services are already operational. By March 2027, the state plans to extend heliport services to Hamirpur, Chamba, and Palampur. The biggest ambition: a large heliport near Tara Devi, outside Shimla, which Sukhu says will sharpen air connectivity between Shimla and Chandigarh and act as a catalyst for tourism.Why Reckong Peo and Rampur matter most
Reckong Peo is the administrative headquarters of Kinnaur district — a remote, high-altitude zone that shares a sensitive border with Tibet and whose road links are repeatedly severed by landslides and snowfall. Rampur sits at a strategic junction of the Sutlej valley. For residents of both regions, a helicopter link to Sanjhauli — a neighbourhood that serves as one of Shimla's key access points — can mean the difference between hours of treacherous road travel and a swift aerial hop. For tourists eyeing Kinnaur's apple orchards and high-altitude passes, it is a genuine game-changer.The UDAN backbone and Himalayan connectivity pattern
Himachal Pradesh's helicopter ambitions sit inside a national framework. The Central government's UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme, launched in 2016, specifically subsidised helicopter operations to underserved Himalayan routes, recognising that terrain makes fixed-wing connectivity impractical across much of the region. State governments across the Himalayan belt — regardless of political stripe — have consistently pursued heliport projects as supplements to road networks that weather and geology routinely disrupt. Sukhu's announcements follow that established playbook, but the scale and sequencing are notable: three new heliports in one deadline window, plus a major gateway facility near the state capital.The Tara Devi gateway and what it could unlock
The proposed large heliport near Tara Devi is the most consequential piece. Positioned on the outskirts of Shimla, it is envisioned as a hub linking the state capital with Chandigarh — the nearest major urban centre in the plains. A reliable Shimla-Chandigarh air corridor would dramatically reduce travel time for business visitors, government officials, and leisure tourists, and could absorb overflow demand when the notoriously congested NH-5 road corridor is blocked. The precise land-acquisition and tendering steps for this facility are the details to watch as the plan moves from announcement to ground-breaking. With infrastructure timelines announced and a March deadline now public, the pressure is on delivery. Himachal Pradesh's tourist economy is waiting to take off — literally.Point of View
And air links are the only scalable fix. By sequencing operational launches first (Sanjhauli-Rampur, Sanjhauli-Reckong Peo) and framing future heliports against a hard March deadline, the Congress government is clearly building a deliverable infrastructure record ahead of the next electoral cycle. The Tara Devi hub proposal is the wildcard: if it materialises, it redraws the state's gateway economics; if it stalls at land acquisition, it becomes an accountability point. Either way, the UDAN framework gives the Centre shared credit — and shared responsibility — for whatever follows.
NationPress
25 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which helicopter routes have been launched in Himachal Pradesh in 2026?
Helicopter services from Sanjhauli to Rampur and from Sanjhauli to Reckong Peo have been launched, as announced by CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on 25 October 2026.
When will heliports open in Hamirpur, Chamba and Palampur?
The Himachal Pradesh government has set a target of March 2027 to launch heliport services in Hamirpur, Chamba and Palampur.
What is the Tara Devi heliport plan?
A large heliport is proposed near Tara Devi on the outskirts of Shimla to improve air connectivity between Shimla and Chandigarh and boost tourism in the region.
What is the UDAN scheme and how does it relate to Himachal Pradesh helicopter services?
UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) is a Central government scheme launched in 2016 that subsidises flights and helicopter operations in underserved areas, including Himalayan states like Himachal Pradesh.
Why is air connectivity important for Reckong Peo and remote Himachal Pradesh districts?
Reckong Peo, headquarters of Kinnaur district, has road links that are frequently disrupted by landslides and snowfall; helicopter services provide a reliable alternative for residents and tourists.
