Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the air service between Pithoragarh and Dehradun on Tuesday. The CM travelled in the first flight from Naini Saini airport in Pithoragarh. Congratulating the people of the State for the new air service, the CM expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Civil Aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia for the gift to the State. He said that Uttarakhand is an important State for religious tourism. Dhami said that earlier one used to reach the border district of Pithoragarh from Delhi and Dehradun in 17 hours and now this time has been reduced to 11 hours with the construction of all weather road. Dhami said that now with the air service available one can reach Pithoragarh in one hour from Dehradun.

 He said that the Dehradun airport is being upgraded to international standards and a new terminal is being constructed here. The Airports Authority of India has already conducted an OLS survey for developing Pantnagar airport into an international airport.  The State government is also planning to make the Dehradun- Almora- Pithoragarh helicopter service regular. He said that after the visit of Adi Kailash and Jageshwar Dham by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi the number of tourists visiting these places has increased. PM Modi is giving national and international recognition for the tourists’ spots of Uttarakhand. Dhami expressed confidence that the new air service will prove to be a milestone for promoting tourism in Pithoragarh district. He said that initially the air service to Pithoragarh will be available thrice a week and later its frequency will be made five days in a week. The CM also requested the civil aviation minister to start an air service from Pithoragarh to Hindon airport.

 Addressing the inaugural ceremony in a virtual mode, Scindia said that the double engine government is committed to development. Remembering his old association with the State, Scindia said that Uttarakhand is Devbhoomi. He said that the 19 seater service between Pithoragarh and Dehradun will be available on Monday, Tuesday and Friday. Scindia said that the air service will be beneficial for both locals and the tourists.  

 MP Ajay Tamta termed the day historic and requested that an air service connecting Pithoragarh to Delhi should also be started.