Uttarakhand: First govt-run inter-state chopper service flagged off

In Uttarakhand, the first government-run inter-state chopper service that connects Dehradun to Garhwal hills was flagged off yesterday. It will boost tourism in the hills.

The flight on the Dehradun-New Tehri-Srinagar-Garhwal Gauchar route is operated by the state-run Pawan Hans Limited under the Central Government's Regional Connectivity Scheme of 'Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik' was flagged off virtually by the Minister of Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri and Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat.

After inaugurating the services, the Civil Aviation Minister said that the



route provides much-needed air connectivity to people of the hill state and is affordable, The airfare between Dehradun and New Tehri has been fixed at 2,903 rupees and the distance will be covered in 25 minutes. One has to spend a similar amount to travel on Tehri-Srinagar and Srinagar-Gauchar route.

Government officials are hoping the helicopter service would boost Char Dham Yatra tourism since Dehradun has direct connectivity now with Gauchar in Chamoli district which houses Badri Nath Temple one of the four shrines in the state.