The Air services on Dehradun-Pithoragarh and Pantnagar-Pithoragarh routes was started on Thursday. Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the launch of the services under Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme.

He said that with the commencement of this service, Pithoragarh can be reached from Dehradun in an hour’s time. This will facilitate the people of the areas adjoining Nepal and China border while also boosting tourism.

At the Naini Saini airport in Pithoragarh, a programme was organised to mark the launch of the air service. The passengers who arrived on the maiden flight from Dehradun to Pithoragarh and those who travelled from Pithoragarh to Pantnagar-Dehradun were garlanded by local women in traditional attire. A cultural troupe also performed Cholia dance on the occasion. Travelling as one of the passengers on the Heritage Aviation flight from Dehradun, the State’s Finance and Parliamentary Affairs minister Prakash Pant said that a long standing need of the district had been met with the start of this air service.

He also thanked the local residents for their cooperation towards facilitating the construction of the Naini Saini airstrip. He said that after necessary work on the Hindon airport is done, air service between Pithoragarh and Delhi would also be started. At the Pantnagar airport, the director Sanjeev Kumar informed that a total of 18 persons travelled on the flights between Pantnagar and Pithoragarh on a nine-seater plane. The tickets for the flights between these two destinations are fully booked till January 26, he added.