Shimla, March 4 (IANS): The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Wednesday directed Air India to file a reply on a petition challenging suspension of flights from the airport in the state capital since September 2012.

A division bench of Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan passed the order on a petition filed by Paras Dhaulta, who contended that the government has been spending a lot of money on the upkeep and maintenance of the airport but no flight is operating to and from there.

The petitioner said the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has prepared a preliminary report suggesting that the site identified near Kandaghat in Solan district was feasible for the construction of a bigger airport.

The high court, in its earlier orders, had constituted a committee of the ministry of civil aviation, the AAI, Air India and the state government to suggest ways and make the airport functional as early as possible.

The state chief secretary informed the court that the Air India chairman has informed the state that ATR 42-320 aircraft could be plied if operational facilities for smooth and safe operations are provided.

The court listed the matter for next hearing on March 30.