Replying to a question by BJP member Rajesh Shukla, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Indira Hridayesh said in the state assembly that regular air service from Pantnagar would begin from October this year.
She said the need for regular air service at Pantnagar was strongly felt for a long time especially in the wake of movement of industrialists following setting up of SIDCUL industrial area.
Hridayesh said the Uttarakhand government had already provided 134.40 acres of land to the Airport Authority of India (AAI) for expansion of Pantnagar airport.
Efforts were on to get forest clearance for remaining 39.41 acres of land required for the purpose, she said.
The minister said a total of 173.81 acres of land was required for the purpose of expansion of Pantnagar airport.
To a supplementary question, Hridayesh said the work for development of airstrips at Gauchar in Chamoli, Chinyalisaur in Uttarkashi district and Naini Saini in Pithoragarh would be taken up on priority basis.
