TBM Staff - Mumbai
Uttarakhand is a major tourist destination in India, but travel to and from the state can be challenging. To improve connectivity, the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) is taking steps to offer direct air links to seven major airports across the country. These airports include Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Patna, selected based on anticipated passenger demand.
Currently, proposed routes include flights between Delhi and Pithoragarh, with additional connections from Jolly Grant Airport to Bhopal, Chennai, and Patna. Meanwhile, Pantnagar Airport is set to link with Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Mumbai.
Officials believe the Mumbai route will be particularly beneficial, especially for those associated with the State Infrastructure and Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand Limited (SIIDCUL). Additionally, the connection to Bengaluru will greatly aid trekkers in the Kumaon region.
The initiative also features Viability Gap Funding (VGF), providing subsidies to airlines willing to operate these routes, making them more feasible for carriers to serve.
