New Delhi: Union Minister of Civil Aviation and Steel, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia today virtually inaugurated a UDAN flight connecting Dehradun and Pithoragarh from New Delhi.
Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami also joined the event from Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand.
The flight connecting the two cities is to be operated by “Fly Big” under the RCS UDAN Scheme. Pithoragarh Airport has been developed under the UDAN-RCS scheme, with a cost of Rs 6.68 Crore into a 2B VFR Airport. The RCS flight between Dehradun and Pithoragarh was awarded under UDAN 4.2. Fly Big will be operating a 19-seater Twinotter DHC6-400 aircraft for ferrying the passengers.
Distance of about 11 hours will be covered in just 1 hour
In his inaugural address, Minister of Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya Scindia said that the flight service between Dehradun-Pithoragarh will be operated 3 days a week (Monday, Tuesday and Friday). He said, “As a result of its commencement, the road distance of about 11 hours will be covered in just 1 hour. This flight service will expand the tourism potential of Pithoragarh and neighbouring areas and connect the eastern regions of Uttarakhand to the capital city of Dehradun.
Including Almora, Chinyalisaur, Gauchar, Sahastradhara, New Tehri, and Haldwani Heliports amongst others. Elaborating on the work being done under the UDAN scheme, he said that the development of Dharchula, Haridwar, Joshimath, Mussoorie, Nainital, and Ramnagar heliports is also being done.
On other infrastructure development carried out under the UDAN scheme, Scindia said, “We have also identified 5 other heliports under UDAN 5.1 Round, which include Bageshwar, Champawat, Lansdowne, Munsiyari and Triyogi Narayan Heliports. Soon development work will be started on these 5 other heliports as well.”
Talking about the development work at Dehradun airport, Scindia said, “Developed for Rs 457 crore, the total area of the New Terminal building is 42,776 square meters and this terminal building can handle 1800 passengers in peak hours and 36.5 lakh passengers annually.” Elaborating on the impact of infrastructure development, he said that in 2014, only 86 flights were being operated from here per week, today 210 flights are being operated from here, i.e. an increase of 144%.”