By Our Staff Reporter
New Delhi, 29 Apr: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who is currently on a tour to Delhi, today called on Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu. Both the leaders deliberated on the advancement of the aviation sector in Uttarakhand, enhancement of air connectivity, and promotion of tourism in the region.
The CM reminded the Union Minister that Uttarakhand Government had transferred 524.78 acres of land to the Airports Authority of India to facilitate the expansion of the runway at Pantnagar Airport from 1,372 metres to 3,000 metres. The Airports Authority of India has already prepared a master plan for the development of Pantnagar Airport. Dhami urged the Union Minister to instruct the Airports Authority of India to commence the work at the earliest.
Dhami also proposed the expansion of Jolly Grant Airport and requested an extension of night operations until midnight. He emphasised that this measure would allow more passengers to avail air services efficiently in the state.
In respect of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS Udaan), the CM requested regular air services from Naini Saini Airport (Pithoragarh) to Indira Gandhi International Airport (New Delhi). He highlighted the need to launch air services from Pithoragarh to Dharchula and Pithoragarh to Munsyari under RCS Udaan, as this would significantly ease travel for local residents. He also recommended extending the operational hours at Naini Saini Airport to enable night operations and benefit a greater number of passengers.
Dhami reminded the Union Minister of the strategic importance of Pithoragarh, which borders Tibet (China) and Nepal, and underscored the critical role air connectivity could play in ensuring seamless movement for local residents. The CM also proposed the establishment of ‘House of Himalayas’ stalls at airports in Dehradun, Pithoragarh, and Pantnagar to showcase and promote local products.
In addition, the CM also urged the Union Minister for initiation of direct air services on routes such as Dehradun-Haldwani, Dehradun-Pantnagar, and Dehradun-Nagpur. Dhami also urged the Union Civil Aviation Minister for an early upgradation of the Jolly Grant Airport (Dehradun) to international airport and for an early launch of international air services from Jolly Grant Airport (Dehradun) and also made an appeal to the Union Minister to inspect the Chinyalisaur and Gauchar airstrips so that air operations can begin from these sites.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu assured positive action on all the CM’s proposals.
It may be recalled Dhami had met Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw yesterday to discuss key railway initiatives aimed at enhancing connectivity and infrastructure in Uttarakhand.
During the meeting, Dhami expressed gratitude for the issuance of the CRS certification for the Roorkee-Deoband railway line, acknowledging its significance for the state.
During the meeting, Dhami also proposed the exploration of a tunnel-based railway line project connecting Dehradun to Saharanpur via Mohand, inspired by the tunnelling system employed in the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail project. He urged the Railway Minister to approve the project after assessing its feasibility. In addition, the CM also called for the expedited implementation of the Rishikesh-Uttarkashi rail line project.
