Good news for Uttarakhand! Pawan Hans's first UDAN-RCS service launched - Check routes, connectivity benefits

In a major development, Pawan Hans's first UDAN-RCS service has been launched in Uttarakhand. Flagging off the first helicopter service by Pawan Hans in Uttarakhand under the UDAN-RCS scheme, Hardeep Singh Puri, MoS, I/C, Civil Aviation said that launch of the heli service and opening of these new routes will bring people of the state closer and support tourism in the region.

This service will enable connectivity between Dehradun, New Tehri, Srinagar and Gauchar.

274 UDAN routes have been operationalized so far connecting 45 airports and 3 heliports since the launch of the first UDAN flight in April 2017 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Good News For The People Of Uttarakhand! Shri @HardeepSPuri, HMCA, Shri @tsrawatbjp
, CM, Uttarakhand, along with other officials of MoCA flagged off @PawanHansLtd's first #UDAN-RCS route in Uttarakhand connecting Dehradun to New Tehri to Srinagar to Gauchar. #SabUdenSabJuden," Ministry of Civil Aviation tweeted.

Ministry of Civil Aviation added in another tweet, "By reducing the travel time from over 3 hours by road to just under 25 mins, this will provide much needed air connectivity to the people of the region. With new heliports added at New Tehri & Srinagar, 274 routes, 45 airports & 5 heliports have been operationalized till now."

By reducing the travel time from over 3 hours by road to just under 25 mins, this will provide much needed air connectivity to the people of the region. With new heliports added at New Tehri & Srinagar, 274 routes, 45 airports & 5 heliports have been operationalized till now.

— MoCA_GoI (@MoCA_GoI) July 29, 2020

Ministry of Civil Aviation said, "Commencement of the new heli services will enhance the aerial connectivity between hilly regions in Uttarakhand and bring down the average travel time to 20-25 minutes. This will also assist the Chaar Dhaam Yatra pilgrims. Pawan Hans Ltd. will operate thrice-weekly helicopter services on this route."

Viability Gap Funding (VGF) is provided to both operators and passengers under the UDAN scheme to keep the fares affordable for the common people. Accordingly the fare for these routes is Rs. 2900 per seat. MoCA awarded the Dehradun- New Tehri – Srinagar - Gauchar route to Pawan Hans Ltd. under the UDAN 2 bidding process, as per Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Ministry of Civil Aviation  added that two more networks connecting Dehradun to Ramnagar, Pantnagar, Nainital, Almora, Pithoragarh, and Dehradun to Mussoorie will also be operationalized soon by Pawan Hans Ltd.

Three rounds of UDAN have already been undertaken and so far close to 50 lakh passengers have travelled in UDAN flights covering airports in 19 States and 2 UTs. The fourth round of UDAN is under process.