The Uttarakhand High Court directed all the respondents to file their separate counter affidavits, positively within four weeks, indicating the time needed for commencing regular commercial flights under Regional Connectivity Scheme from Pithoragarh Airport.
The Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari and Justice Vivek Bharti Sharma heard a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed raising the issue of air connectivity to Pithoragarh, which is having an airport since 1991, which was inaugurated in 1994.
It is pointed out that in absence of regular flights to Pithoragarh, which is one of the remotest border district of State of Uttarakhand, Pithoragarh district is not able to join the main stream and has remained underdeveloped.
It is further pointed out that air connectivity is necessary for relief and rescue work during natural calamities and, also because of the strategic importance of Pithoragarh District, regular passenger flights are necessary.
Dushyant Mainali , counsel for the petitioner, submitted that the airport was established at Pithoragarh with a view to promote tourism related activities in the area, which otherwise does not have sufficient employment opportunities. He has produced in Court a document issued by Airport Authority of India under UDAN Scheme.
On perusal of said document , the Court noted that the different airports, which are connected under the Regional Connectivity Scheme floated by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India. As on 17.10.2023, Pithoragarh is having regular flights from Dehradun since 17.01.2019; from Pantnagar since 17.01.2019 and from Hindon Airport (U.P.) since 11.10.2019. As per the said document, these flights to Pithoragarh are operated by Heritage Aviation.
The counsel for the petitioner further submits that, although on paper, Pithoragarh is having flight connectivity with Pantnagar, Dehradun and Hindon Airport (Ghaziabad, U.P.), however, in reality, not a single commercial flight has taken off from Pithoragarh till now.
The counsel appearing for Union of India conceded that no commercial flight is operating from Pithoragrah Airport.
The Bench has listed the matter 13.02.2024 for further hearing.
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