Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the new Dehradun–Pithoragarh–Dehradun flight service at Jolly Grant Airport on Thursday, marking a significant development in the state’s regional air connectivity. The 42-seater aircraft service is expected to cut travel time between the two cities to just one hour, providing both convenience and strategic benefits for the mountainous region.

Addressing the inauguration, Dhami highlighted that air travel, once considered a privilege for the affluent, has now become accessible to ordinary citizens, thanks to initiatives such as the UDAN scheme. Launched in 2016, UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) aims to connect smaller cities, remote areas, and border regions with affordable air services. “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, even an ordinary citizen wearing slippers can afford to travel by air,” the Chief Minister said.

Dhami further noted that the central government has recently approved UDAN 2.0, targeting the development of 100 new airports and 200 heliports over the next decade, with an estimated budget of ₹29,000 crore. The expansion seeks to strengthen air connectivity in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, ensuring accessible transport options in remote and hilly regions.

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Emphasising the importance of aviation for Uttarakhand, Dhami described air services as a lifeline for the state, facilitating the delivery of essential supplies and the transport of critically ill patients to major hospitals. Currently, 26 air routes operate under UDAN in Uttarakhand, while the “Uttarakhand Air Connectivity Scheme,” launched in 2023, supports six regular routes. Over the past four years, heliports in the state have grown from 2 to 12, and helipads from 60 to 118. The state has also been recognised nationally as the “Best State for Promotion of Aviation Ecosystem.”

With the new Dehradun–Pithoragarh flight service, residents of Pithoragarh can reach the state capital within an hour, which is expected to boost local commerce and tourism. Dhami also mentioned helicopter services between Pithoragarh and Munsyari and announced plans for developing Pithoragarh Airport with an investment of ₹450 crore. Additionally, an MoU was signed between the Airports Authority of India and the Uttarakhand government for the acquisition of Naini Saini Airport, further strengthening future regional connectivity.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu extended his congratulations through a video message, assuring continued support for enhancing aviation infrastructure in the state. The inauguration reflects ongoing collaborative efforts between the central and state governments to bring remote and border regions into the mainstream of development.

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