Flights to Jaipur start from Pantnagar airport in Kumaon

RUDRAPUR: Union minister of state for defence and tourism Ajay Bhatt inaugurated the new IndiGo flight that will connect Pantnagar to Jaipur via Ahmedabad. Pantnagar, the airport that connects to Kumaon regions of the state (Garhwal has Jolly Grant in Doon), only had flights to Delhi so far.

At the inauguration on Sunday, the union minister handed over tickets to a couple from Haldwani and welcomed them with flowers Bhatt congratulated airline IndiGo and stressed that the "government has been striving to establish air connectivity to every corner of the country".

"The new route will further boost tourism and business opportunities in Uttarakhand, as Jaipur attracts a large number of tourists and businessmen," Bhatt said. He mentioned how the flights launched from Dehradun initially faced challenges but now the Jolly Grant airport runs two dozen flights. Rudrapur BJP legislator Shiv Arora said that the expansion of Pantnagar airport is also underway.

District magistrate YK Pant said, "The flight will run daily, in addition to the Delhi-Pantnagar flight, which also runs daily. It will also provide job opportunities to taxi drivers and other jobless youth."