In a major boost to the air connectivity in Uttarakhand, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami virtually inaugurated helicopter services from Sahastradhara to Joshiyada and Gauchar on Thursday. He also virtually flagged off the first Delhi-Pithoragarh commercial flight during an event in the national capital.
The 42-seater Alliance Air flight, carrying 21 passengers, successfully landed at Naini Saini airport and returned to Delhi with 27 passengers. Dhami said these three projects would boost tourism and economic development in the state and added, “The start of these air services will also accelerate emergency and disaster management efforts.”
Under the UDAN scheme, 18 heliports are currently being developed in the state, with air services already operational at 10, connecting key areas like Srinagar, Haldwani, Munsiyari, Pithoragarh, Pantnagar, Champawat, and Almora. “Efforts will be made to connect other important areas of the state with heli services in the future,” Dhami said.
The Sahastradhara-Gauchar helicopter service will take around 50 minutes, departing from Sahastradhara at 9:30am and returning from Gauchar at 10:40am. Pawan Hans will operate this service six days a week, Monday through Saturday, with a fare of INR 3,000 per person until Nov 20 after which it will rise to INR 3,600.
The Sahastradhara-Joshiyada heli service will take around 40 minutes, with a 12pm departure from Sahastradhara and a 1pm return from Joshiyada. This service will also run six days a week with a one-way fare of INR 3,000 per person until Nov 20 increasing to INR 3,300 thereafter.
This helicopter service will run from Dehradun to Haldwani, Pantnagar, Almora, and Pithoragarh. This service of 7-seaters Pawan Hans will run only once a week. The Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, said that the heli services being run in the state under the UDAN scheme would play an important role in increasing air connectivity in Uttarakhand. These services will facilitate the movement of people.
The flights between Delhi and Pithoragarh will operate thrice a week—on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. The schedule includes a 9:20am departure from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi Airport, arriving in Pithoragarh at 10:45am. The return flight will depart Pithoragarh at 11:15am and land in Delhi at 1 pm. The introductory fare is INR 2,499 per person till Nov 14 after which it will rise to INR 6,999 from Delhi to Pithoragarh and INR 7,447 for the other way. The new service follows a prolonged disruption in air connectivity between Pithoragarh and Delhi, prompting the govt to launch the 42-seater commercial service. Air Alliance, which secured the route licence, recently completed trial landings.
While flagging off the flight, Dhami said it would boost tourism in Pithoragarh by providing easier access to Adi Kailash, Om Parvat, and other tourist spots. However, locals remain cautious about the service due to a history of flight operations starting and then ceasing in the district. “It will be beneficial only if the air services remain continuous,” said Prakash Pande, a resident.
