Delhi/Dehradun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu in New Delhi on Friday and discussed in detail various topics related to the development of aviation sector in the state, improvement in air connectivity and giving new impetus to tourism.
The Chief Minister expressed his gratitude to the Union Civil Aviation Minister on behalf of the people of the state for the support received by the state in the aviation sector. He especially praised the initiative to set up kiosks under the umbrella brand ‘House of Himalayas’ to promote local products at the airports of the state and said that this has given recognition to local products in the state on the national and international platform.
The Chief Minister apprised the Union Minister of the plan to restart heli services for Chardham Yatra after the end of monsoon in the state. These services are very important especially for the elderly, disabled and disabled devotees. Coordination is going on between the concerned departments of the State Government and the Central Government on this subject. In the high level meeting held on 01 September, many important suggestions have been received for the operation of heli services. The Chief Minister said that while ensuring the safety and convenience of the devotees, the resumption of heli services will make the journey smooth and reduce the pressure on the road routes.
The Chief Minister apprised the Union Minister that more than 70 percent of the state’s area is forested. Air connectivity in the state, especially in the hilly districts, is not only necessary, but is also very important from the point of view of tourism, civil transport and disaster management. The Chief Minister requested to develop Gauchar (Chamoli) and Chinyalisaur (Uttarkashi) airstrips for small aircraft operations and connect them with Delhi, Dehradun and Hindon. This will increase the convenience of Chardham Yatra and will also facilitate the supply of essential goods in the hilly areas.
The Chief Minister also requested the Union Minister to operate night air service at Jolly Grant Airport so that more and more passengers can get the benefit of air service. The Chief Minister also discussed about the expansion of Pantnagar Airport and informed that most of the necessary works have been completed by the state government. He also requested to direct the Airports Authority of India to start the work soon.
The Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to start regular air service from Delhi to Pithoragarh soon under the Regional Connectivity Scheme and said that the air service will prove beneficial not only from the tourism point of view of the state but also from strategic and humanitarian point of view. The Chief Minister also requested the Union Civil Aviation Minister to inspect the Chinyalisaur and Gauchar airstrips and initiate action to start air services.
The Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to give approval to the above proposals by giving priority to them. The Union Civil Aviation Minister assured the Chief Minister of positive action on all the proposals.
