Dehradun, March 27 -- Describing aviation as a lifeline for the mountainous regions of Uttarakhand, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday said air connectivity plays a crucial role in linking remote areas and providing emergency support in difficult terrain. "For a hill state like Uttarakhand, air services are not merely a mode of transport but a lifeline. They help connect inaccessible regions and provide critical support during emergencies," Dhami said, while inaugurating the Dehradun-Pithoragarh-Dehradun air service at Jolly Grant Airport here on Thursday . The newly launched service between Dehradun and Pithoragarh will be operated by Alliance Air using a 42-seater aircraft. With the introduction of the service, travel time between the two cities will be reduced to about one hour. The chief minister said the new flight service will significantly improve connectivity to the border district of Pithoragarh and is expected to boost economic activity and tourism in the region. Highlighting the importance of air connectivity in the hill state, Dhami said "aviation services are proving highly effective in delivering essential supplies to remote areas and transporting critically ill patients to major hospitals in emergencies". He said that currently 26 air routes are operational within the state under the UDAN Scheme, which aims to improve regional air connectivity across the country. The chief minister noted that there was a time when air travel was considered accessible only to the privileged and affluent sections of society. "However, today, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, even an ordinary citizen wearing slippers can afford to travel by air. He highlighted that the UDAN scheme, launched in 2016, has brought a new revolution in the civil aviation sector by connecting smaller cities, remote, and border areas to the air network and providing affordable air services to the common people," he said. To further expand connectivity in remote areas, the state government launched the Uttarakhand Air Connectivity Scheme in 2023. At present, regular flight operations are being conducted on six routes under this scheme, officials said. Dhami also highlighted the rapid expansion of aviation infrastructure in the state over the past four years. According to the chief minister, the number of heliports in Uttarakhand has increased from two to 12, while helipads have grown from 60 to 118. He added that the state has received national recognition for its efforts and was honoured as the "Best State for the Promotion of Aviation Ecosystem". The chief minister said the "government is also working on the development of Naini Saini Airport in Pithoragarh at an estimated cost of Rs.450 crore. A memorandum of understanding between the Airports Authority of India and the Uttarakhand government regarding the airport was signed earlier in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi." Dhami added that a helicopter service connecting Pithoragarh and Munsiyari has also been launched to strengthen connectivity in remote border areas....