NTI (Dehradun) : Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated a new passenger terminal building at Sahastradhara heliport and launched the Dehradun-Almora helicopter service. In a significant boost to regional connectivity, the CM also announced the introduction of air services from Sahastradhara to three new destinations within the state: Yamunotri, Gauchar, and Joshiyada.
These new services will operate under the Chief Minister Udan Khatola Yojana, part of the Uttarakhand Air Connectivity initiative. The CM interacted virtually with passengers from Almora during the launch event.
Addressing the gathering, Dhami emphasized the state government’s long-standing efforts to establish air services in Uttarakhand. He highlighted the expansion of Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun and the existing helicopter services to Chinyalisaur, Gauchar, Munsiyari, Srinagar, Haldwani, and Pithoragarh.
The CM underscored the potential of these services to benefit tourism, economy, employment, and self-employment, particularly for women entrepreneurs. He expressed confidence that enhanced connectivity would positively impact the lives of Uttarakhand’s residents.
Almora, an ancient city with rich historical and cultural significance, will now be more accessible to tourists thanks to the new helicopter service. The CM mentioned renowned attractions like Jageshwar Dham, Chitai Goljyu Ka Sthan, Katarmal Surya Mandir, and Nanda Devi Temple, drawing visitors from far and wide.
Pushkar dhami praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership in modernizing and indigenizing aviation services in India. He emphasized the importance of affordable air connectivity for states like Uttarakhand with challenging geographical conditions. The CM noted the shift towards air travel as a popular mode of transportation, driven by the Prime Minister’s visionary approach.
The newly constructed passenger terminal building at Sahastradhara heliport is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to accommodate the growing number of passengers. The government has invested Rs 2482.96 lakh in its construction, and it can handle approximately 400 passengers at a time. The helicopter service will be operated by M/s Pawan Hans Limited, offering six days of weekly service at an affordable fare of Rs 4989 per person. The journey time is estimated to be around 55 minutes.
