Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu in New Delhi and discussed the expansion of aviation services in Uttarakhand. He said restarting helicopter services after the monsoon will make the Char Dham Yatra easier, especially for elderly, differently-abled, and devotees unable to walk long distances.
Dhami requested night flights from Dehradun airport and air connectivity between Delhi and Pithoragarh. He also emphasized the importance of aviation for tourism, civilian travel, and disaster management, given that over 70% of Uttarakhand is forest-covered. The CM urged the development of Gauchar and Chinyalisaur airstrips for small aircraft operations, linking them with Delhi, Dehradun, and Hindon.
The Chief Minister also raised the issue of Pantnagar Airport expansion, stating that most state-level work has been completed and sought quick action from the Airports Authority of India. He highlighted that regular flights between Delhi and Pithoragarh under the regional connectivity scheme would benefit both tourism and strategic needs.
The Union Aviation Minister assured CM Dhami of positive consideration of all proposals.
