Dharamshala, July 9 -- The land acquisition process for the expansion of Himachal Pradesh's Kangra Airport has entered its final stage, with nearly Rs.2,300 crore disbursed to beneficiaries so far, officials said. Of the 14 revenue villages identified for acquisition, relief and rehabilitation awards have been announced for seven. In four of these villages, the land has been officially transferred (mutated) to the tourism department, which has initiated the process of taking possession for the next phase of the project. "The land in four revenue villages has been mutated in favour of the tourism department. We have started informing the residents about the process of taking possession of the land for the next phase of the airport expansion project. We have already taken possession of some land," Kangra district tourism development officer Vinay Dhiman said. The total cost of the land acquisition along with relief and rehabilitation is estimated to be around Rs.3,300 crore. The proposed expansion is expected to displace hundreds of families. According to official estimates, nearly 1,200 households across 14 villages will be affected. The project will also require the relocation of almost the entire Gaggal township, located about 2 km from the airport. The expansion project aims to increase the airport's runway length from the existing 1,376 m to 3,01 m, enabling operations of larger aircraft such as the Airbus A320 and improving connectivity between the Kangra valley and other parts of the country. At present, the shorter runway allows only 72-seater aircraft to operate. Meanwhile, families affected by the project have sought a two-year extension to vacate their acquired homes and land, saying they need more time for construction of their new homes. In a memorandum submitted to chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu through the Kangra Deputy Commissioner, residents of Rachhiyalu and Kyodiyan villages said they support the airport expansion but urged the government to adopt a humane approach by granting them adequate time to relocate. The residents also pointed out that compensation was determined on the basis of the prevailing land rates at the time of acquisition, and since the start of the project, the property prices in the nearby areas have increased nearly fourfold, forcing many displaced families to purchase plots at significantly higher prices....