Finally, Uttarakhand CM Dhami flag off civilian air services from Pithoragarh
Listen to this articleFinally, Uttarakhand CM Dhami flag off civilian air services from Pithoragarh
B.D. Kasniyal
Pithoragarh, Jan 30
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated civil air services from Naini-Saini airport at Pithoragarh. He was joined by Union Civil Aviation Minister Jotiraditya Scindia online for the ceremony from national capital New Delhi.
The first civic flight from Pithoragarh to Dehradun will start from February 2, this year, CM Dhami announced.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion at airport, Chief Minister said that with beginning of air services from Pithoragarh, the people of this border district, will get relief from 17 hours long arduous journey to Dehradun from Pithoragarh.
“It will also help tourists who want to visit religious and tourist places of Pithoragarh,”said the CM.
Pushkar Singh Dhami further said that in future while the extension of air services will be made up to Hindon airport, the airport will be provided night landing facilities. “I, will request the union government to consider installing of night landing facilities at this airport while taking development of Jauligrant and Pantnagar airports in hand also, “said the CM.
The Chief Minister reached Pithoragarh at 10.40 am to inaugurate the resumption of air service from the airport and took off for Dehradun at 12.30 pm. The air service, to be run by a 19 seater aircraft of Fly Big company, will initially fly between Pithoragarh- Dehradun and Pantnagar.
This is second such occasion when the air services started from the airport that was commissioned in the year 1994. The air services from here were first time inaugurated in the month of October 2019, that were run by a 9 seater aircraft of Heritage Aviation company. The air services were closed in March 2020 after the aircraft developed a technical snag mid air while flying from Pantnagar to Pithoragarh.
Taking the initiative to start air services from here, Uttarakhand government had persuaded Fly Big company to arrange a small aircraft that could fly between Pithoragarh to Dehradun and from Pithoragarh to Hindon airport of Gaziabad.”Keeping the demand and on availability of passengers, the air services will be extended up to Hiindon in future,” said the Chief Minister.
