The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has granted operational approval for Sanjauli heliport along with Rampur heliport, making Sanjauli the first fully operational heliport in Himachal Pradesh under the central government’s UDAN-2 scheme. The tourism department has received operational licenses for both facilities.
While Himachal Pradesh has numerous helipads across districts for emergency landings and government use, Sanjauli represents the state’s first purpose-built heliport with complete aviation infrastructure. Unlike basic helipads that serve as simple landing spots, heliports feature comprehensive facilities including passenger terminals, fuel storage, maintenance areas, and advanced navigation systems for regular commercial operations.
Sanjauli heliport features night landing capabilities and will handle emergency medical evacuations to PGI Chandigarh and AIIMS. The Chief Minister’s helicopter will also operate from this facility.
The approval comes after a three-year wait. Construction began in April 2018, the first successful landing occurred on January 3, 2021, and former Chief Minister Jairam Thakur inaugurated it in 2022. The DGCA had previously raised several objections that have now been resolved.
“DGCA approval has been received for operating Sanjauli and Rampur heliports. The department is preparing plans for aviation company operations, staff deployment, and flight route schedules,” said Vivek Bhatia, Director of Tourism and Civil Aviation Department.
The heliport will boost tourism by providing direct access to Shimla city, eliminating the need for visitors to travel 30 kilometers from Jubbarhatti Airport – a journey that currently takes about 1.5 hours by road. Tourists will now be able to land directly in the capital city, significantly improving connectivity for domestic and international visitors.
