Dehradun: To boost air connectivity in Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated four new helicopter services on Tuesday. These services connect Dehradun with Nainital, Bageshwar, and Mussoorie, and Haldwani with Bageshwar by air.
Tourism and Economic Growth to Accelerate
The Chief Minister stated that these helicopter services, launched under the ‘Udaan’ scheme, will provide fresh momentum to tourism and economic development in the state. Improved connectivity will benefit local residents and make travel easier to key tourist destinations such as Nainital, Bageshwar, and Mussoorie. He said, “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the ‘Udaan’ scheme is a significant step toward making air travel accessible to the common people.”
He added that road travel from Dehradun to these places takes 8 to 10 hours, whereas the helicopter journey will take only about one hour. These services will also prove vital during emergency situations.
Services Operating at 12 Heliports Across the State
The Chief Minister informed that to further strengthen air connectivity, 18 heliports are being developed in Uttarakhand, with helicopter services already operational at 12 of them. Locations connected include Gauchar, Srinagar, Chinyalisaur, Haldwani, Munsiyari, Pithoragarh, Pantnagar, Champawat, and Almora.
Virtual Interaction with Passengers
During the launch event, the Chief Minister interacted virtually with passengers traveling by helicopter. The ceremony was attended by Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi, MLAs Umesh Sharma Kau, Khajan Das, Savita Kapoor, Brij Bhushan Gairola, Mayor Saurabh Thapliyal, Principal Secretary R.K. Sudhanshu, Secretary Sachin Kurve, Garhwal Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey, UCADA CEO Sonika, along with several officials and public representatives.
Helicopter Service Operation and Fare Details
All four helicopter services will operate seven days a week. The Dehradun-Mussoorie route will be operated under the Uttarakhand Air Connectivity Scheme, while the other three will run under the Central Government’s Regional Connectivity Scheme.
| Route | Fare (INR per passenger) | Departure Time (From Dehradun/Haldwani) | Departure Time (From Destination) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dehradun–Nainital | 4500 | 8:15 AM, 2:25 PM | 9:10 AM, 3:20 PM |
| Dehradun–Bageshwar | 4000 | 10:20 AM, 12:30 PM | 11:10 AM, 1:20 PM |
| Haldwani–Bageshwar | 3500 | 8:30 AM, 2:45 PM | 9:00 AM, 3:00 PM |
| Dehradun–Mussoorie | 2578 | – | – |
The Chief Minister emphasized that these helicopter services will not only make travel easier but will also serve as a vital lifeline during natural disasters. The Uttarakhand government continues efforts to expand domestic and international flights to develop the state as a major tourism and spiritual destination.
