Expanding its wings in Uttarakhand, Air India is going to start regular flights from Kumaon’s Pantnagar airport from October 1.
The regular flights by Air India between Pantnagar and Delhi will be available from this airport for the people for four days —Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday in a week. There is no regular air service from this airport as of now following the suspension of the private run Kingfisher air service about three years ago.
And despite ‘pressing’ demand from the people, particularly, the entrepreneurs to have regular flight from the Pantnagar airport, the State Government has not been able to do much to resume the air connectivity from this Terai belt in Udham Singh Nagar district during the past three years.
However, Pankaj Kumar Pandey, District Magistrate, Udham Singh Nagar, informing about the commencement of regular flights from Pantnagar airport said that commencement of the air transport service from this airport from October 1, will definitely help the industrialists promote their business interests and meet growing challenges at the international market.
More so, the citizens of this region may also make the most of the air service from here, he further said, adding better air connectivity will also provide necessary cushion to the tourism sector.
The Civil Aviation Ministry, Government of India, has given its seal of approval on the matter, it is learnt. Soon a team of experts from the Civil Aviation department will visit the Pantnagar airport to assess the facilities and safety aspects, added the officials concerned.At the same time, the authorities concerned of the Pantnagar airport have also maintained that steps are being taken to ensure proper facilities for passengers and safety at the airport.
Several industrialists have welcomed the commencement of the regular flight from the Pantnagar airport from October 1. Better air connectivity may come in handy to provide modern and fast transport services to the people including the entrepreneurs, said Anil Srivastav, an industrialist.
The demand for having regular flights, particularly from the entrepreneurs of the SIIDCUl located in Udham Singh Nagar is old. So better transport services may go a long way to boost the industrial sector in the state, he maintained. As the experts here believe faster and modern mode of air transport service may also prove useful for a state like Uttarakhand to deal with natural disasters that occur almost annually here.