Civil Aviation Conference held in Doon
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 4 Jul: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami made a strong case for a dedicated aviation policy tailored to the unique needs of Himalayan states during the Civil Aviation Conference–2025, organised at a hotel here today. Significantly, the event was also attended by Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu along with civil aviation ministers and senior officials from various North Indian states.
Welcoming the dignitaries, the CM remarked that the conference symbolises the remarkable strides made by India’s civil aviation sector under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He observed that the ambitious UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme has revolutionised regional air connectivity, enabling ordinary citizens to access air travel while simultaneously boosting economic activity in remote and previously inaccessible areas. During the event, Dhami also shared that Uttarakhand currently has 18 heliports under development, with 12 already operational. He stressed that for a mountainous state like Uttarakhand, helicopter services have evolved beyond a mere mode of transportation to become a critical component in the lives of its residents. Be it disaster relief, emergency medical response, or facilitating religious pilgrimages such as the Char Dham Yatra, helicopters have significantly enhanced accessibility and efficiency, he added.
Reiterating the geographical and logistical challenges faced by Himalayan regions, Dhami appealed to the Union Civil Aviation Ministry to draft a dedicated and distinct “Mountain Aviation Policy”. Such a policy, he proposed, should encompass targeted financial support, operational subsidies, specialised Air Traffic Control (ATC) systems for high altitude terrains, real time and accurate weather forecasting mechanisms, and robust pre-disaster preparedness protocols. He also recommended that mountain aviation operators be mandated to ensure specialised pilot training, strict compliance with safety standards, and rigorous protocols to safeguard passenger welfare.
As per aviation experts, Dhami’s appeal aligns with growing concerns about aviation infrastructure in ecologically sensitive and disaster-prone mountainous regions, especially after several incidents involving helicopter mishaps in high-altitude zones in recent years. Various experts have echoed the need for terrain-specific aviation regulations and more resilient safety infrastructure to ensure secure and efficient air operations.
The conference also witnessed participation by Uttar Pradesh (UP) Cabinet Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna, Rajasthan Cabinet Minister Gautam Kumar, Haryana Cabinet Minister Vipul Goyal, Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, and senior civil aviation officials from the participating states. Discussions focused on enhancing regional connectivity, improving aviation safety, and accelerating the development of infrastructure in difficult terrains.
