PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
The Union government has assured the State government that the process of expansion of Pantnagar airport will commence soon. The assurance was given by the Civil Aviation secretary, Samir Kumar Sinha to Uttarakhand chief secretary Anand Bardhan on Tuesday in New Delhi.
Bardhan met secretaries of different departments during his New Delhi visit on Tuesday.
Sinha assured that the bidding process for the Pantnagar airport will start in the next six months. In the meeting, the CS requested for the facility of late night landing at Dehradun Airport, resumption of Heli ambulance service and strengthening of Pithoragarh Airport.
In view of the recent helicopter crash landing incident in Kedarnath, the CS demanded appropriate action from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) keeping in view the safety of the passengers, so that recurrence of such incidents could be prevented in future.
On the day, the CS also met Union Forest and Environment secretary Tanmay Kumar and requested him to provide necessary clearances for Tyuni-Plasu hydropower project, Rishikesh-Neelkanth Ropeway project, and Sirkari Bhyol Rupasiyabagad hydropower project.
In his meeting with the secretary, Housing and Urban Srinivas Katikithala, the CS requested for extending Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) beyond the Delhi-Meerut route to Haridwar and Rishikesh. He also sought suggestions to solve the problems of traffic jams and public transport in Dehradun city.
The CS also met the Union Drinking Water secretary, Ashok KK Meena and requested for the release of the pending amount of about Rs 3,000 crore under Jal Jeevan Mission in the state. He also discussed the issue of the solid waste management system during the Char Dham Yatra under the Swachh Bharat Mission.
The CS also met MSME secretary Subhash Chandra Lal Das and requested for 90 per cent cost assistance from the Central government to promote the MSME sector in Uttarakhand like in the North Eastern States.
In his New Delhi visit the CS also met senior officers of the Prime Minister’s Office and discussed financial assistance for Kumbh-2027, expansion and strengthening of the civil aviation sector.
