Dharamshala, Jan. 15 -- As the land acquisition process for the expansion of Kangra airport in Himachal Pradesh is underway, Rs.936 crore has been disbursed till January 12, officials aware of the matter said. Earlier, the state government had disbursed up to Rs.460 crore, with officials stating that the target was to release additional Rs.800 crore by January 18. The state government is in the process of expanding the airport and is acquiring around 150 hectares of land for the project. The total cost of land acquisition has been pegged at approximately Rs.3,500 crore. The proposed expansion is expected to displace hundreds of families. According to estimates, at least 1,500 households across 14 villages would be affected. The expansion would also entail the displacement of almost the entire Gaggal township, located about 2 km from the airport, as noted in the Himachal government's social impact assessment (SIA) report released in May 2023. Kangra district tourism development officer Vinay Dhiman said, "The state government has expedited the land acquisition process for the expansion of the airport. Awards for 64% land (77.77 hectares) to be acquired have been announced. The expansion of the airport will remain crucial in improving air connectivity to the region, connecting more destinations and boosting tourism." The expansion project, which is underway, aims to increase the runway length of Kangra airport from the current 1,376 metres to 3,010 metres. This extension is crucial for accommodating larger aircraft, such as the Airbus A320, which would enhance connectivity between the Kangra valley and other parts of the country. In July last year, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had written to Union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu requesting to recommend the expansion project for "Special Central Assistance". Due to its shorter runway, only 72-seater aircraft can operate from the airstrip. Currently, the daily flight movements at Kangra airport vary from two flights per day to four flights, connecting Delhi and Chandigarh. The Shimla-Dharamshala flights operated by Alliance Air have been temporarily suspended....