TBM Staff - Mumbai In a bid to strengthen air connectivity and bolster tourism, the Uttarakhand government is gearing up to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Alliance Air. The Chief Secretary, Radha Raturi, conducted a meeting with the Tourism Department to discuss plans for enhancing facilities and connectivity for tourists visiting the religious site of Adi Kailash.
Aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, the Tourism Department plans to launch helicopter services connecting Adi Kailash, Om Parvat, and Parvati Sarovar in the Dharchula area of Pithoragarh district. The proposed routes will allow tourists to visit Adi Kailash and Om Parvat from Jaulingkong and Nabidhang.
Addressing the economic challenges faced by residents in higher Himalayan regions during the harsh winter months, Raturi emphasised the potential of winter tourism to provide year-round employment opportunities. The initiative aims to prevent migration to lower areas and harness the strategic, religious, and adventure tourism potential of these border regions.
The Tourism Department plans to operate helicopter services initially for six months, with the possibility of regular operations in the future based on comprehensive testing. The Chief Secretary instructed the department to develop an action plan for basic facilities in the Adi Kailash area, fostering year-round tourism activities.
In a separate development, the Chief Secretary held a meeting with the Civil Aviation Department and Alliance Air to strengthen air connectivity in the state. An MoU is set to be signed with Alliance Air, with the government launching air connectivity projects on Varanasi-Pantnagar-Varanasi and Pantnagar-Pithoragarh-Pantnagar routes as pilot projects. Additional air routes, including Amritsar-Dehradun-Amritsar, Dehradun-Pantnagar-Dehradun, and Dehradun-Ayodhya-Dehradun, are scheduled to commence in the first week of March, utilizing a cost-minus-revenue model with a 70-seater IE 72 aircraft.
She emphasised the necessity of robust air connectivity for a tourism-focused state, citing its potential to boost tourism activities in remote areas and provide essential services during emergencies.
