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Keeping in view the repeated natural disasters that frequently damage roads and bridges, the Uttarakhand government has planned to spend around Rs 200 crore to strengthen the civil aviation sector and set up 40 chopper landing facilities in the hill state.
The government has already set up a civil aviation authority and has roped in the Airport Authority of India (AII), RITES, and Pawan Hans to develop new helipads, helidromes and heliports. At present, there are 12 helipads/helidromes in the state, most of which are undeveloped. In addition to this, the government intends to construct 28 more such facilities.
A survey is being conducted to identify the new sites. “We are planning in such a way that all the 13 districts will have 3-4 heli-pads/helidromes/heliports each,” said additional chief secretary Rakesh Sharma.
The government has already received Rs 100 crore for strengthening the two airports at Naini-Saini in Pithoragarh district and Chanyalisaur in Uttarkashi district. RITES has been appointed as the consultant for expansion and modernisation of Naini-Saini airport. RITES is preparing a DPR of the airport project which will be expanded for the landing of ATR 42 aircraft. The government is spending Rs 48 crore the expansion and modernisation of Naini-Saini airport. Similarly, Chanyalisaur airport will also be developed to facilitate the landing of ATR-42 aircraft.
With this, Uttarakhand will have 4 airports. The Jollygrant airport in Dehradun was expanded few years ago and planes like Boeings have started landing. Air connectivity is also expected to start shortly from Pantnagar airport which has also been modernized, said Sharma.
The government had received Rs 20 crore from different central agencies for strengthening helicopter landing facilities.
“All these efforts to strengthen our civil aviations sector is being done to promote tourism and also in view of frequent natural disasters that strike the state damaging roads and bridges,” said Sharma.
