An agreement has been reached between the Air Force and the state government on the strengthening and expansion of air services in Uttarakhand, which is strategically important from the China border.
Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Central Air Command Air Marshal RGK Kapoor met Governor Lt Gen Gurmeet Singh (Senior) and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami separately on Friday in this regard. Along with agreeing to his request to give no-objection to the Pithoragarh airport to be handed over to the Air Force soon, the government informed that the process is in motion.
Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Central Air Command Air Marshal RGK Kapoor met Governor Lt Gen Gurmeet Singh (Senior) and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami separately on Friday in this regard. Along with agreeing to his request to give no-objection to the Pithoragarh airport to be handed over to the Air Force soon, the government informed that the process is in motion.
Governor Lt Gen Gurmeet Singh (Seni) held a meeting with Air Marshal RGK Kapoor, officials of the Air Force and Civil Aviation Department at Raj Bhavan on Friday. The Governor said that Naini Saini Airport of Pithoragarh is very important from strategic and tourism point of view.
Tourism activities in the entire Kumaon region will be benefited by the smooth operation of air services there. Along with this, Vibrant Village will be helped in fulfilling the mission of the central and state governments to develop. This airport is also important from the point of view of Om Parvat, Adi Kailas, Kailas Parvat Yatra in this area.
MoU can be done between Air Force and Government:
The Governor said that in addition to tourism, constant discussion and coordination is necessary between the Air Force and the state government for the purpose of developing infrastructure facilities in border areas and keeping them safe from strategic point of view. In the meeting, it was urged on behalf of the Air Force that NOC action should be taken soon to bring Pithoragarh Airport under the Air Force. With this, an MoU can be signed between the Air Force and the government.
Civil Aviation Sachin Kurve was told that the state government has agreed in this regard. Action is going on in this regard. A request was also made to upgrade the helipads built in strategically important places of the state for the use of the Air Force. Apart from the Airforce, this will also help the general heli services.
While expanding the Pantnagar airport, a request was made to make an enclave for the Air Force. UCADA CEO C Ravi Shankar asked Air Force officials in the meeting to consider the use of airstrips built at Chinyalisaur and Gauchar. Wing Commander Anuj Chopra, Air Commander Tahir Sheikh were present in the meeting.
On the other hand, Air Marshal RGK Kapoor met Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at his residence. He requested the Chief Minister that it is necessary to propose minimum load capacity of 24 tonnes for new bridges in the state. With this, the movement of heavy vehicles of the Air Force and the Army will be done easily.
This load capacity should be kept in the construction and upgradation of new bridges. Presently, the minimum load capacity of bridges in the state is 17 tonnes. He informed that an MoU is proposed between the Air Force and Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam and Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam. With this, Air Force officers and personnel will be allowed to use the facilities of both the corporations at the rate of the Central Government.
Allot 20 acres of land to Airforce:
Air Marshal Kapoor requested the state government to allot 20 acres out of the total 25 acres of land for the Pithoragarh airfield. He also discussed various proposals related to PM Gati Shakti Yojana to develop infrastructure facilities in the state. He said that work will be done in coordination with the state government under PM Gati Shakti.
