01-26-2008, 04:22 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Doon airport set to open in Feb </b>
Pioneer.com
Sunil Kumar | Dehradun
The upgradation work at Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun and Pant Nagar airport in Udham Singh Nagar have been completed and are scheduled to start operations in February 2008. Besides, three airstrips at Naini Saini in Pithoragarh, Gochar in Chamoli and Chinyalisaur in Uttarkashi are also ready for operation.Â
Talking to The Pioneer, State Tourism and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prakash Pant said, "The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) said it would start operations at these airports by the last week of February or the first week of March." The State has already written to all the airlines, asking them to begin operations to Uttarakhand. So far, the State has received response from Indian airline, Deccan and Kingfisher airlines. After the renovation, Deccan will initially start with two flights a week while the other two airlines are yet to decide. Before the upgradation work, Indian, Jagson Airlines and Air Deccan were operating their flights from these airports.
"After the upgradation, the airports now have the capacity to handle landing of Airbus 320 and Boeing 787. The Jolly Grant airport at Dehradun essentially caters to the Gharwal region in the State, while the Pant Nagar Airport caters to the Kumanon region," Pant added.
Commenting on the need to extend helicopter operations in the State, Pant said, <b>"We want to extend the helicopter facility to the Char Dhams of Uttarakhand, ie, Gangotri, Yamnotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. We would also like to extend it to Hemkunth Sahib, the renowned religious pilgrimage site of the Sikhs. The Government will provide free water, security, power, and fire services to the helipads."</b>
Talks are on currently with Jagson Airlines, Prabhatam Aviation and Pawan Hans Helicopter Services. Of these Jagson Airlines has already shown its interest in the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which the State is keen to promote through helitourism. The State Government has also signed a MoU with Gharwal Mandal Vikas Nigam and Pawan Hans Helicopter Services for developing religious tourism in the State.
At present the State has 64 halipads, of which 40 are being controlled by the State Government, while the remaining ones are under the control of the Indo- Tibetian Border Police Force (ITBP). Fifteen out of 40 State-owned helipads, are being upgraded with latest technology so that those who wish to enjoy the natural beauty of Uttarakhand but could not do so due to lack of air connectivity will be able to see the whole of Uttarakhand within one or two days.
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Pioneer.com
Sunil Kumar | Dehradun
The upgradation work at Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun and Pant Nagar airport in Udham Singh Nagar have been completed and are scheduled to start operations in February 2008. Besides, three airstrips at Naini Saini in Pithoragarh, Gochar in Chamoli and Chinyalisaur in Uttarkashi are also ready for operation.Â
Talking to The Pioneer, State Tourism and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prakash Pant said, "The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) said it would start operations at these airports by the last week of February or the first week of March." The State has already written to all the airlines, asking them to begin operations to Uttarakhand. So far, the State has received response from Indian airline, Deccan and Kingfisher airlines. After the renovation, Deccan will initially start with two flights a week while the other two airlines are yet to decide. Before the upgradation work, Indian, Jagson Airlines and Air Deccan were operating their flights from these airports.
"After the upgradation, the airports now have the capacity to handle landing of Airbus 320 and Boeing 787. The Jolly Grant airport at Dehradun essentially caters to the Gharwal region in the State, while the Pant Nagar Airport caters to the Kumanon region," Pant added.
Commenting on the need to extend helicopter operations in the State, Pant said, <b>"We want to extend the helicopter facility to the Char Dhams of Uttarakhand, ie, Gangotri, Yamnotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. We would also like to extend it to Hemkunth Sahib, the renowned religious pilgrimage site of the Sikhs. The Government will provide free water, security, power, and fire services to the helipads."</b>
Talks are on currently with Jagson Airlines, Prabhatam Aviation and Pawan Hans Helicopter Services. Of these Jagson Airlines has already shown its interest in the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, which the State is keen to promote through helitourism. The State Government has also signed a MoU with Gharwal Mandal Vikas Nigam and Pawan Hans Helicopter Services for developing religious tourism in the State.
At present the State has 64 halipads, of which 40 are being controlled by the State Government, while the remaining ones are under the control of the Indo- Tibetian Border Police Force (ITBP). Fifteen out of 40 State-owned helipads, are being upgraded with latest technology so that those who wish to enjoy the natural beauty of Uttarakhand but could not do so due to lack of air connectivity will be able to see the whole of Uttarakhand within one or two days.
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