Uttarakhand: Uttarakhand government has given special focus to develop strong infrastructure for air services with an aim to facilitate access to remote areas in the hill state. In the last two years, heliports have been constructed at eight places across the state. The construction of heliports is in progress at six other places.
The eight heliports, constructed by the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), are located in Sahasradhara, Srinagar, Gauchar, Chinyalisaur, Haldwani, Almora, Pithoragarh and Munsiyari. These heliports are now functional. They continue to provide regular services to the passengers.
More than 100 helipads have been built in the state
The UCADA has started work on heliports in Trijuginarayan, Joshimath, Mussoorie, Ramnagar, Bageshwar, and Haridwar. The construction works of the six heliports is expected to be completed in the next one year. Additional Chief Executive Officer of UCADA Dayanand Saraswati, in a press release, said that more than 100 helipads have been built in the state. They are available to provide passenger services, besides their services to meet emergencies. In this way, basic facilities for air connectivity to far flung areas of the state have now been made available.
Expansion of the Pantnagar and the Jolly Grant airports
The state government has also decided to expand the Pantnagar and the Jolly Grant airports. For this purpose, the process for the land acquisition is being done. The Pantnagar airport is being developed on the lines of a green field airport while Jolly Grant is being developed as per international standards.
Heliports have different facilities
The heliports have facilities like parking of several helicopters at the same time, proper maintenance (hangar), restrooms, canteen, toilets etc. for passengers. Heliports are constructed on the lines of airports.
CM Dhami says it will promote tourism and pilgrimage
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream is that even the common man of the country can travel by air. “For this, air services are being developed in Uttarakhand through the Udan Yojana as well as the Chief Minister Udan Khatola Yojana. It will help promote tourism as well as pilgrimage,” he said.
