*Chief Minister Launches Dehradun–Pithoragarh Air Service*
*Alliance Air to Operate 42-Seater Aircraft Service Between Dehradun and Pithoragarh*
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the Dehradun–Pithoragarh–Dehradun air service at Jolly Grant Airport on Thursday. Speaking on this occasion, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that, on the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami, the launch of the 42-seater air service from Dehradun to Pithoragarh will enable the journey between Pithoragarh and Dehradun to be completed in just one hour. He further added that this air service holds immense strategic importance as well.
The Chief Minister remarked that there was a time when air travel was considered possible only for the elite and affluent sections of society. However, today, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, even the common citizen—the one wearing *hawai chappals* (flip-flops)—can undertake air travel. In 2016, by launching the UDAN scheme, the Prime Minister ushered in a new revolution in the country’s civil aviation sector. Through this initiative, smaller cities, as well as remote and border regions, are being connected to the air network, thereby making air services available to common citizens at affordable rates.
The Chief Minister noted that the Central Government had, just two days prior, approved UDAN Scheme 2.0. Under this initiative, a target has been set to develop 100 new airports and 200 new helipads over the next 10 years, backed by a budget of approximately ₹29,000 crore. The scope of this scheme has been expanded specifically with the objective of strengthening regional air connectivity in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, as well as ensuring affordable and accessible air services in remote and hilly regions.
*Air Services Have Become a Lifeline*
The Chief Minister asserted that for a hilly state like Uttarakhand, air services are not merely a mode of transportation; they have evolved into a lifeline. From delivering essential supplies to inaccessible and remote areas to transporting critically ill patients to major hospitals for urgent medical treatment, air services are proving to be highly effective. Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that, currently, 26 air routes are being operated within the state under the UDAN scheme. To connect the remote regions of the state through air connectivity, the “Uttarakhand Air Connectivity Scheme” was launched in 2023. At present, regular flight operations are being conducted on six air routes under this scheme. Over the past four years, the number of heliports in the state has increased from 2 to 12. Additionally, the number of helipads has risen from 60 to 118. Uttarakhand has also received national recognition, such as the award for “Best State for Promotion of Aviation Ecosystem.”
*Journey to Pithoragarh to be Completed in One Hour*
The Chief Minister remarked that with the launch of the Dehradun-Pithoragarh air service, the residents of Pithoragarh can now reach Dehradun in just one hour. This service will provide a new impetus to Pithoragarh’s economy. He noted that, in the past, our border regions were neglected for years, which resulted in a limited pace of development in these areas. Today, the Central and State governments are working in tandem to integrate these border and remote regions into the mainstream of development. In line with this objective, a heli-service has also been launched between Pithoragarh and Munsyari.
The Chief Minister further stated that the government is also undertaking the development of the Pithoragarh Airport at a cost of ₹450 crore. In this context, on the occasion of State Foundation Day—and in the presence of the Prime Minister—a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Airports Authority of India and the Government of Uttarakhand regarding the acquisition of the Naini Saini Airport; this initiative is expected to yield even greater benefits for the region in the times to come.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu conveyed his best wishes for the Dehradun-Pithoragarh air service via a video message, while also assuring continued support for the promotion of aviation facilities within the state. Cabinet Ministers Khajan Das and Bharat Chaudhary, MLA Brijbhushan Gairola, former MLA Chandra Pant, office-bearer Hemraj Bisht, Alliance Air CMD Mr. Amit Kumar, UKADA CEO Dr. Ashish Chauhan, and ACEO Sanjay Tolia were present at the ceremony.