(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami kicked off new helicopter services on Wednesday, connecting remote hill towns and boosting travel in the state. From his residence in Dehradun, Dhami virtually launched the routes under the UDAN scheme: Pithoragarh to Munsyari and back, plus Haldwani to Almora and back. This move aims to make life easier for folks in Uttarakhand’s far-flung areas by improving air connectivity.
Dhami highlighted how these services will transform travel. “These new helicopter flights will greatly enhance transportation for people in remote parts of Uttarakhand,” his office stated. He pointed out that Almora and Munsyari are ancient towns packed with history, culture, stunning natural beauty, historic temples, and rich heritage. They draw tourists from India and abroad, and now visitors can reach them much faster and more conveniently thanks to these helicopter rides.
Take the Haldwani-Almora route, for example—journeys that once took 3-4 hours by road will now shrink to just minutes in the air. Officials expect this to spark a tourism boom and speed up economic growth in these regions.
Dhami credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s UDAN scheme for making it all possible. The initiative has strengthened air links across India, including new airstrips and heliports in Uttarakhand. Right now, the state runs helicopter services from 12 out of 18 planned heliports, linking key spots like Gauchar, Joshiada, Haldwani, Munsyari, Mussoorie, Pithoragarh, Pantnagar, Champawat, Bageshwar, Nainital, and Almora. More connections are on the way soon.
Looking ahead, Uttarakhand is pushing to become a global travel hub. The state is working on international flights and upgrading Jolly Grant and Pantnagar airports to handle them, alongside building stronger domestic air networks.
These new routes run twice a day, every day of the week. On the Pithoragarh-Munsyari line, flights leave Pithoragarh at 10:30 a.m. and 1:50 p.m., with returns from Munsyari at 10:50 a.m. and 2:10 p.m. For Haldwani-Almora, departures from Haldwani are at 11:50 a.m. and 3:10 p.m., and from Almora back at 12:50 p.m. and 4:10 p.m. Tickets cost Rs 2,500, and you can book them on the official website. This is a big step for Uttarakhand tourism and regional development.
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