The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation will conduct a survey followed by necessary action regarding the demand for construction of airport/airstrip at Chaukhutia in Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. The Union Civil Aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said this in response to a request made by the Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat. The Chief Minister on the other hand also appreciated the ministry for the incorporation of the regional connectivity scheme in the new civil aviation policy of the Union Government stating that it will also help in making the inactive airstrips useful. The CM said this while appreciating aspects of the policy while meeting the Union minister of Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju on Thursday.
Interacting with the union minister, the chief minister informed Raju that at present, the level of utilisation being made of Pantnagar airport in Uttarakhand is below the airport’s capacity. He further elicited the focus of the Union civil aviation minister on the requirement for starting additional air services from the Pantnagar airport to Dehradun-Delhi-lucknow and other locations. Stating that the Pantnagar airport is also being developed as a cargo hub for boosting export activities, the chief minister also emphasised on the need for facilitation of the provision for refueling at Pantnagar airport. He said that in the present condition, the operation of small aircraft services can be started at three other airstrips in Uttarakhand including Pithoragarh, Chinyalisaud in Uttarkashi district and Gauchar in Chamoli district. This facilitation will also provide a boost to tourism activities which in turn will expand economic activity and employment generation in the mountainous regions.