Uttarakhand received a major air connectivity boost on Saturday with the resumption of the Dehradun–Gauchar helicopter service under the UDAN scheme. The service, operated by Heritage Aviation, restarted nearly three years after it was discontinued in July 2022. It was originally launched on 8 October 2021.
Marking 25 years of the state’s formation and the Silver Jubilee year, the Centre and the state government have reintroduced this affordable air service to improve regional connectivity. The helicopter will operate seven days a week, offering two flights daily between Dehradun and Gauchar.
Fare Reduced by 50%
A significant advantage for passengers is the sharp reduction in ticket prices. The earlier one-way fare of around ₹8,000 has now been reduced to ₹4,000 per passenger, excluding 5% GST. The journey covers New Tehri and Srinagar before reaching Gauchar, completing the route in approximately 45 minutes.
Heritage Aviation Vice President Kumar Gaurav said the first flight departs Dehradun at 10:15 AM, reaches Tehri at 10:30 AM, Srinagar at 10:45 AM, and Gauchar at 10:50 AM. The return flight leaves Gauchar at 11:00 AM and arrives back in Dehradun at 11:30 AM.
The second flight departs at 2:30 PM, follows the same stopovers, and returns to Dehradun by 3:45 PM.
The revival of this service is expected to support tourism, business travel, medical emergencies, and faster accessibility for remote hill regions.
