Dhami, Scindia inaugurate Dehradun-Pithoragarh flight
By Our Staff Reporter
Pithoragarh, 30 Jan: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia jointly inaugurated the Pithoragarh-Dehradun air service from Naini Saini Airport, here, today. Dhami was personally present at Naini Saini Airport here and travelled back to Dehradun in the flight. On the other hand, Scindia inaugurated the flight in virtual mode from Delhi.
At the time of inauguration, the Chief Minister congratulated everyone and also expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia for the launch of the flight. He said that Uttarakhand is a very important state from the point of view of religious tourism. Air service is very important and a convenient mode of travel for the pilgrims and tourists in the state. Earlier, it used to take 17 hours to reach Dehradun or Delhi from Pithoragarh. Now, due to construction of better roads with the help of the Modi Government in the Centre, it now takes 11 hours by road to reach to Dehradun or Delhi from Pithoragarh. However, after the launch of this air service, it will be possible to reach Dehradun or New Delhi from Pithoragarh in just one hour.
The Chief Minister said that Jolly Grant Airport is being upgraded to an international level airport and, for this, a new terminal is being constructed at Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. In addition, an OLS survey has been conducted by the Airports Authority of India to develop Pantnagar Airport as an international airport. Earlier, heli services had been started from Jolly Grant Airport between Dehradun-Almora-Pithoragarh and now the government is planning to regularise the heli-services as well. In addition, work is also being done to include small aircraft services from Chinyalisaur and Gauchar in the near future.
Dhami said that, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Adi Kailash and Jageshwar Dham, the number of tourists there has been increasing rapidly. The Prime Minister has given a new identity to the tourist sites of Uttarakhand in the country and abroad. He expressed hope that this air service will prove to be a milestone in promoting tourism in Pithoragarh district. The Chief Minister said that this service has now been started for three days a week, later it will be expanded to five days. The Chief Minister requested the Union Civil Aviation Minister to also start an air service from Pithoragarh to Hindon in the coming time.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, while addressing through virtual medium, said that the double engine government is committed to making every possible continuous effort for development. He said that Uttarakhand is the land of the Gods and is the gateway to North India and that he has a deep connection with Uttarakhand, having spent 5 years there as a student. He said that, both, Kumaon and Garhwal have now been linked with the air service. He said that currently a 19-seater aircraft will be operated between Dehradun and Pithoragarh three times a week on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. He appreciated the work being done by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in the state.
Almora MP Ajay Tamta said that today was a historic day. He congratulated everyone on the commencement of air service from Pithoragarh to Dehradun. He expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister and the Union Minister for their special efforts in the civil aviation sector.
Present at the programme were Secretary Shailesh Bagoli, Lal Batti holder Ganesh Bhandai, District Panchayat President Deepika Bohra, MLA, Pithoragarh, Mayukh Mehar, former MLA Chandra Pant, former District Panchayat President Virendra Singh Bohra, BJP District President Girish Joshi, BJP District Vice President Inder Lunthi, and District Magistrate Reena Joshi.
