Uttarakhand: Air service between Dehradun and Pithoragarh has officially commenced. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the air service connecting Dehradun and Pithoragarh. This flight will be operated under the Regional Air Connectivity Scheme. CM Dhami expressed his delight at the launch of this air service between Dehradun and Pithoragarh.
The service between Dehradun and Pithoragarh has been launched by Alliance Air, utilizing a 42-seater aircraft. The Chief Minister stated that the commencement of the Dehradun-Pithoragarh flight will benefit passengers traveling by air between the Garhwal and Kumaon regions. He noted that while traveling from Dehradun to Pithoragarh previously took approximately 15 hours, this distance can now be covered in just one hour.
LIVE: जौलीग्रांट एयरपोर्ट से देहरादून-पिथौरागढ़ विमान सेवा (42 सीटर) का शुभारम्भ https://t.co/kKG7Z4KhKy
— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) March 26, 2026
In this context, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami flagged off the 42-seater Alliance Air service connecting Dehradun and Pithoragarh. With the launch of this service, the border district of Pithoragarh will now be directly linked via air connectivity to other remote mountainous regions. This will yield significant benefits for tourism, trade, and emergency services. The ease of travel and reduced transit time will provide immense relief to the public. While this ensures that development reaches even the remotest corners of the state, it also gives a new impetus to connectivity within Uttarakhand.
Today marks another historic step towards giving a new boost to the border regions. The inauguration of the air service (42-seater) from Jolly Grant Airport to Pithoragarh will accelerate regional development, expand tourism opportunities, and enhance convenience for the local populace. CM Dhami highlighted that, over the last four years of our “Double Engine” government, the number of heliports in Uttarakhand has increased from 2 to 12, and the number of helipads has risen from 60 to 118. It is a testament to our robust aviation ecosystem that the state has been honored with the award for the “Best State for Promotion of Aviation Ecosystem.” CM Dhami stated that tourism in border regions will gain new momentum, and fresh employment opportunities will be created. Heli-services are also proving to be extremely useful in disaster management and during emergency situations. The helipads developed across various regions of the state are playing a pivotal role in this regard. In Uttarakhand—a state sensitive to natural disasters—this infrastructure is making rapid relief and rescue operations even more effective.
He noted that since 2014, the country has witnessed unprecedented expansion in the realm of air connectivity. Airports have developed rapidly, and regional flights have received a significant boost through various schemes, thereby ensuring improved connectivity for remote and border areas as well.
The approval granted by the Union Cabinet to ‘UDAN Scheme 2.0’ marks a historic milestone in the country’s civil aviation sector. With an outlay of approximately ₹29,000 crore, the initiative will pave the way for the development of 100 new airports and 200 new helipads—benefits of which will accrue to the entire nation, including Uttarakhand.
