Inauguration of New Heli Service in Uttarakhand

• 02 Mar 2024

Why in News?

Recently, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated heli service in Uttrakhand to boost connectivity within the state.

Key Points

• The newly launched helicopter service will link Haldwani with Munsiyari, Pithoragarh, and Champawat.
• This initiative is a part of the Regional Connectivity Scheme which aims to reduce the distance between these remote regions.
  • Due to Uttarakhand’s challenging terrains, aerial connectivity will help with both everyday travel and critical emergency response capabilities.
• This launch follows the recent inauguration of a new terminal building at Jolly Grant Airport.
• Upcoming air routes were also announced, including Dehradun to Amritsar, Dehradun to Pantnagar, and Dehradun to Ayodhya.

Regional Connectivity Scheme: UDAN

• About:
  • UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagarik) was launched by the Ministry of Civil Aviation for regional airport development and regional connectivity enhancement.
  • It is a part of the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016.
  • The scheme is applicable for a period of 10 years.
• Phases:
  • Phase 1 was launched in 2017, with the objective of connecting underserved and unserved airports in the country.
  • Phase 2 was launched in 2018, with the aim of expanding air connectivity to more remote and inaccessible parts of the country.
  • Phase 3 was launched in November 2018, with the focus on enhancing air connectivity to hilly and remote regions of the country.
  • Phase 4 of the UDAN scheme was launched in December 2019, with a focus on connecting islands and other remote areas of the country.
  • Phase 5 was launched in April 2023, with a focus on Category-2 (20-80 seats) and Category-3 (>80 seats) aircrafts with no restriction on the distance between the origin and the destination of the flight.