Accessible transport will be available to common citizens in remote areas: Chief Minister

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday virtually inaugurated the Pithoragarh-Munsyari-Pithoragarh and Haldwani-Almora-Haldwani air services under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (UDAN Scheme) from the Chief Minister’s residence. The Chief Minister said that the launch of these air services will facilitate the movement of common citizens in remote areas of the state.

The Chief Minister stated that Almora and Munsyari, not only ancient cities of Uttarakhand, but also historically and culturally important. These cities attract tourists from across the country and the world for their natural beauty, historic temples, and rich culture. With the launch of the helicopter service, tourists will now have easier access to Almora and Munsyari. These services will reduce the travel time from Haldwani to Almora from three to four hours to just a few minutes. The launch of helicopter services will boost tourism and economic development in both regions.

The Chief Minister said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi initiated a visionary scheme called the UDAN scheme. This scheme has made a significant contribution to strengthening air connectivity in the state, under which airstrips and heliports have been developed in many parts of the state. The Chief Minister said that work is underway to operate helicopter services from 18 heliports in the state, of which services have been successfully launched at 12 heliports so far.

The Chief Minister said that heli services have already connected important areas such as Gauchar, Joshiara, Haldwani, Munsyari, Mussoorie, Pithoragarh, Pantnagar, Champawat, Bageshwar, Nainital, and Almora. He added that other important areas will also be connected with heli services in the future.

The Chief Minister said that in addition to strengthening air connectivity in the state, continuous efforts are being made to expand international flights with the aim of establishing Uttarakhand as a major global destination. Work is also underway to develop Jolly Grant and Pantnagar airports for international air services.

It is noteworthy that helicopter services for Pithoragarh-Munsyari-Pithoragarh and Haldwani-Almora-Haldwani will operate seven days a week, twice daily. This helicopter service from Pithoragarh to Munsyari will depart at 10:30 am and 1:50 pm. The service from Munsyari to Pithoragarh will depart at 10:50 am and 2:10 pm.

Heli-to-Almora flights will depart from Haldwani at 11:50 am and 3:10 pm, while flights from Almora to Haldwani will depart at 12:50 pm and 4:10 pm. The fare for these flights is ₹2,500, and passengers can book tickets online through https://airheritage.in/.

Secretary Yukada, Mr. Sachin Kurve, Chief Executive Officer Yukada, Mr. Ashish Chauhan and other officials were present in the program.