Dharamshala, Oct. 21 -- As the land acquisition process for the expansion of Kangra airport in Himachal Pradesh nears completion, around Rs.2,400 crore has been disbursed to beneficiaries so far, officials familiar with the matter said.

Awards totalling Rs.2,580 crore have been announced for land acquisition across 14 revenue villages. The relief and rehabilitation (R&R) process is also underway, with around Rs.215 crore disbursed under this component, while another Rs.360 crore is yet to be paid to affected families.

The total cost of the land acquisition and R&R, for the airport expansion project, has been estimated at around Rs.3,200 crore at present.

"We have started taking possession of the land, and people have also begun dismant...