Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday virtually launched new air services on the Pithoragarh-Munsyari-Pithoragarh and Haldwani-Almora-Haldwani routes under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (UDAN). The inauguration was held from the Chief Minister’s residence.
As per the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), Dhami said these services will make travel much easier for people in remote areas in the state. He added that Almora and Munsyari are among Uttarakhand’s oldest towns, known for their beauty, historic temples, and cultural heritage, and the new flights will make it more convenient for tourists to reach there.
"Known for their natural beauty, historic temples, and rich cultural heritage, these towns attract tourists from across the country and abroad. With the launch of helicopter services, tourists will now be able to reach Almora and Munsyari much more conveniently," the statement read.
The statement highlighted that travel time between Haldwani and Almora will now drop from 3–4 hours to just a few minutes. The new services are expected to give a big boost to tourism and economic growth in both regions.
Dhami also mentioned that the UDAN scheme, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has greatly improved air connectivity in the country. Under this plan, several airstrips and heliports have been built across Uttarakhand.
"Work is underway to operate helicopter services from 18 heliports across Uttarakhand, of which services have already begun successfully at 12 heliports," the statement read.
Helicopter services are currently connecting Gauchar, Joshimath, Haldwani, Munsyari, Mussoorie, Pithoragarh, Pantnagar, Champawat, Bageshwar, Nainital, and Almora. More towns will soon be added. Alongside strengthening connectivity within the state, efforts are underway to start international flights so that Uttarakhand can emerge as a global destination. Plans are also being made to upgrade Jolly Grant and Pantnagar airports for international operations.
The new helicopter services on the Pithoragarh-Munsyari and Haldwani-Almora routes will run twice daily, seven days a week. From Pithoragarh, flights to Munsyari will leave at 10:30 am and 1:50 pm, while return flights will depart at 10:50 am and 2:10 pm. From Haldwani, flights to Almora will leave at 11:50 am and 3:10 pm, with return flights scheduled at 12:50 pm and 4:10 pm.
The fare has been set at Ea 2,500, and tickets can be booked on the official website.
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