Dehradun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the Dehradun–Pithoragarh–Dehradun flight service from Jolly Grant Airport under the regional air connectivity scheme.
On the occasion of Ram Navami, he flagged off a 42-seater aircraft. He said that the journey between Pithoragarh and Dehradun can now be completed in just one hour, calling it significant from both strategic and economic perspectives.
He noted that earlier, air travel was considered limited to the privileged class, but today, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it has become accessible to common citizens.
He highlighted the UDAN Scheme launched in 2016, which aims to connect smaller towns and remote areas through affordable air travel.
He also mentioned that UDAN 2.0 has been approved, under which around ₹29,000 crore will be invested over the next ten years to develop 100 new airports and 200 new helipads, especially benefiting Tier-2, Tier-3 cities, and hilly regions.
The Chief Minister said that for a mountainous state like Uttarakhand, air services are not just a mode of transport but a lifeline. They help in delivering essential supplies to remote areas and transporting critically ill patients to hospitals quickly.
Currently, 26 air routes are operational in the state under the UDAN scheme. Additionally, the “Uttarakhand Air Connectivity Scheme” launched in 2023 operates regular flights on six routes.
He added that in the last four years, the number of heliports in the state has increased from 2 to 12, and helipads from 60 to 118. Uttarakhand has also received the national award for “Best State for Promotion of Aviation Ecosystem.”
The Chief Minister stated that this new service will strengthen the economy of the border district Pithoragarh. He also informed that helicopter service between Pithoragarh and Munsyari has already been started, and the Pithoragarh airport is being developed at a cost of ₹450 crore.
On this occasion, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu conveyed his शुभकामनाएं via video message and assured further expansion of aviation facilities in the state.
