In a development that is expected to considerably boost air link to the border district of Pithoragarh, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has given an aerodrome license to the Naini Saini airport in the district. The State Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Prakash Pant said this on Thursday.
Pant informed that the construction work of the runway was completed in the remote border district of Pithoragarh a long time ago but due to lack of adequate infrastructure, air services could not be started.
After the formation of the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state, Pant continued efforts to start this airstrip besides other important projects.
He managed to get the necessary work done to provide adequate infrastructure at this airstrip besides the widening of the runway and achieved success in getting this included in the Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme started by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Successful completion of trial landing on this airstrip in November was done but due to the final approval of the DGCA pending, regular flights could not be started.
During this visit to Delhi for participating in last week's GST meeting, Pant had discussed this issue at the competent forums during the meeting/talks with various Union ministers, as a result of which the permission has been granted by DGCA to fly the airplanes from this airstrip. Pant informed that there is no hindrance in the operation of the Naini Saini airstrip in Pithoragarh and soon the air service will start.
Expressing happiness, he said that the people of the remote area will get the proper benefit of the air service and with the operation of the air service, besides facility of air transport, it will lead to tourism development, which will prove to be a boon for the border district.