Uttarakhand CM Discusses Expansion of Air Services in Uttarakhand with Union Civil Aviation Minister Sugam Chief Minister urges to start night flight service in Jolly Grant Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami met Union Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu in New Delhi on Friday and discussed various issues related to the development of aviation sector, improving air connectivity and giving a new impetus to tourism in the state.
The Chief Minister thanked the Union Civil Aviation Minister on behalf of the people of the state for the support extended to the state in the aviation sector. Appreciating the initiative of setting up kiosks under the umbrella brand ‘House of Himalayas’ to promote local products, especially at the airports of the state, he said that this has given recognition to the local products in the state on the national and international platform.
The Chief Minister apprised the Union Minister of the plan to resume heli services for Chardham Yatra after the end of monsoon in the state. These services are especially important for the elderly, disabled and disabled devotees. There is close coordination between the central and state governments on this. In the high level meeting held on 1st September, several important suggestions have been received for operation of heli services.
The Chief Minister said that the resumption of heli services would ease the travel and reduce the pressure on the roadways while ensuring safety and convenience of the devotees. The Chief Minister apprised the Union Minister that more than 70 per cent area of the State is under forest cover. Air connectivity is not only essential in the state, especially in the hilly districts, but is also very important from the point of view of tourism, civil traffic and disaster management.
The Chief Minister requested to develop Gauchar (Chamoli) and Chinyalisaur (Uttarkashi) airstrips for operation of small aircraft and connect them with Delhi, Dehradun and Hindon. This will increase the convenience of Chardham Yatra and will also facilitate the supply of essential goods in the hilly areas. The Chief Minister also requested the Union Minister to operate night flight services at Jolly Grant Airport so that more and more passengers can avail the benefit of flight services. The Chief Minister also discussed the expansion of the Pantnagar airport and informed that most of the necessary works have been completed by the state government. He also requested to direct the Airports Authority of India to start the work at the earliest.
The Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to start regular air service from Delhi to Pithoragarh at the earliest under the Regional Connectivity Scheme, saying that air service would be beneficial from the strategic and humanitarian point of view as well as tourism of the state. The Chief Minister also requested the Union Civil Aviation Minister to initiate action to operate air services by inspecting the Chinyalisaur and Gauchar airstrips. The Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to accord priority approval to the above proposals. The Union Civil Aviation Minister assured the Chief Minister of positive action on all the proposals. Department of Information and Public Relations