U’khand pushes air routes for tourism boost
NEW ROUTES FOR BOTH HELI-SERVICES AND AIR SERVICES ARE BEING ANNOUNCED BY THE STATE GOVERNMENT
DEHRADUN: In a bid to deal with connectivity issues, the Uttarakhand government is trying to push air connectivity in state to attract more tourists and industrialists. New routes for both heliservices and air services are being announced by the state government with some in the offing along with expansion of airports. Earlier this month, chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat launched a heli-service from Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun to Gauchar in Chamoli and to Chinyalisaur in Uttarkashi district under the Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme of the central government.
In 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the UDAN-RCS to improve regional air connectivity. In August 2018, stressing the importance of enhancing air connectivity in the hill state, Uttarakhand High Court had stated, “Every citizen has a fundamental right to travel by air at reasonable rates.”
IMPORTANCE OF AIR CONNECTIVITY
Being a Himalayan state, where the economy depends a lot on tourism, air connectivity is very important as it makes it easier for people to visit remote areas, say officials.
DK Gautam, airport director for Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun said that air connectivity for a state like Uttarakhand is very important for three reasons; tourism, Dehradun being an education hub and various central government offices being located here.
“Air connectivity is very important and specially Dehradun because this is the gateway to most religious tourism places in the Garhwal region along with being an education hub. Different central government offices and defence academies are also located here,” said Gautam.
Similar views were expressed by SK Singh, director of Pantnagar airport in Udham Singh Nagar, which acts as gateway to the Kumaon region in terms of air connectivity.
CHALLENGES FACED
In October 2019, connecting one of the remote districts of the state, Pithoragarh to Delhi NCR via air services, the state had achieved a great feat in air connectivity, but since then the service has been suspended many times due to inclement weather or operational reasons.
Tushar Saini, airport manager of Naini Saini airport in Pithoragarh said that due to various reasons services remain suspended for minimum four to five days every month. Air services to the airport are currently non-functional till February 26 due to operational reasons, the official said.