Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 15 Jul: Chief Secretary (CS) Anand Bardhan held a review of the Civil Aviation Department at the Secretariat here today. During the review meeting, the Chief Secretary directed the officials to expedite the expansion of air connectivity across Uttarakhand. He stressed that the state must be saturated with heliports and helipads, describing them as a lifeline for a mountainous region where swift transport is essential. Very significantly, Bardhan also stressed that Dehradun be connected by air services to all the district headquarters, ensuring regular and reliable access.
On the occasion, the CS specifically directed that Pauri district be brought under regular air service, noting that Lansdowne is one of Uttarakhand’s prominent hill stations and must be explored for air connectivity. He further ordered the establishment of a pilot training school, with an aviation academy to be set up at Parag Farm in Udham Singh Nagar. He stated that necessary procedures for its creation have been initiated. He also directed that the air traffic control systems be swiftly established for Badrinath and Kedarnath shrines, and clarified that the civil works for this would be undertaken by the state government while manpower and technical support would be provided by the Airports Authority of India. He emphasised that, with the steady expansion of air services in the state, a comprehensive air traffic control mechanism needs to be established to ensure safe travel. It was also shared at the meeting that Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) has been directed to achieve adequate saturation of ATC coverage in coordination with the Airports Authority.
Bardhan also emphasised the importance of installing automatic weather stations and PTZ cameras across the state to enhance aviation safety and directed the officials to pursue the matter actively with the India Meteorological Department (IMD). He also asserted that stronger air connectivity be extended to remote and underserved areas and that the state should be saturated with the heliports and the helipads. Referring to the growing tourism activity in Gunji and Adi Kailash, he observed that airstrips or heliports must be developed there to meet rising demand. He noted that expansion of Pantnagar Airport is already underway and must be integrated into a comprehensive connectivity plan for the Kumaon region. With the Government of India having launched UDAN‑2, he directed that new routes be proposed for all districts to ensure wider coverage. Among those present on the occasion included Secretary Vinay Shankar Pandey and UCADA CEO Prateek Jain among others.
