Uttarakhand will soon expand its air connectivity. A new helicopter service between Pithoragarh and Munsyari is expected to start by September 30 under the government’s Udan scheme. The service will be run by Heritage Aviation, which has already been selected for the route.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had recently requested Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu to expand heli services in the state. Responding to this, the Union Minister informed him that the Pithoragarh–Munsyari service has been cleared and Heritage Aviation has been selected for the heli service.
Work is also underway to launch another service between Pithoragarh and Dharchula, for which a helipad will be built in Dharchula. Heritage Aviation has been given initial approval for this route as well. The government has also said if airlines proposed a service between Pithoragarh and Delhi, it would be considered positively.
Meanwhile, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has written to the Chief Minister confirming that a feasibility study is being carried out to run a special train between Achhnera and Tanakpur, as requested by the state government.
The Chief Minister thanked both Union Ministers for their support in expanding heli and rail services in Uttarakhand.
Earlier, Dhami also reviewed rescue and relief operations in Chamoli’s Tharali area, where a disaster struck on the night of August 22–23. At the State Emergency Operations Centre in Dehradun, he said a committee of experts and scientists will be formed to study the pattern of recent disasters in Tharali, Saiji (Pauri) and Dharali.
He directed the Chamoli District Magistrate to provide Rs 5 lakh each to families who lost members, and Rs 5 lakh for houses that were damaged. He also stressed that urgent arrangements must be made to drain water from the temporary lake formed at Syanachatti.
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