Latest news with #UttarakhandCivilAviationDevelopmentAuthority
Hindustan Times
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Uttarakhand accounts for majority of chopper crashes in India in last 5 years, says activist
Dehradun, Uttarakhand accounted for a majority of the helicopter crashes and fatalities reported in the country over the last five years, a social activist said on Friday quoting official data. Uttarakhand accounts for majority of chopper crashes in India in last 5 years, says activist Helicopter crashes and emergency landings are occurring at an alarming frequency on the Char Dham Yatra route in the state, with five of them reported between May and June this year, he said. Quoting Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol's recent statement in Rajya Sabha, social activist Anoop Nautiyal said, "In the last five years, Uttarakhand has accounted for nearly two-thirds of all helicopter accidents and fatalities in India. Of the 12 major chopper crashes reported nationwide, seven occurred in Uttarakhand. Of the 30 tragic deaths in these crashes, 21 were in Uttarakhand alone." Nautiyal, who expressed deep concern over the aero safety scene in the hill state, appealed to authorities to put human lives above all else. "The data presented in Rajya Sabha is a clear and troubling signal that something is fundamentally wrong about how we manage our helicopter operations, especially during the Char Dham Yatra. If Uttarakhand ever needed a confirmation that we are the most vulnerable and helicopter accident-prone state in the country, the minister's statement in Rajya Sabha leaves no room for doubt," he said. Nautiyal alleged that authorities concerned are well aware of the loopholes but do not pay attention to plug them, as their prime objective is to set new records in tourist arrivals. Directorate General of Civil Aviation India, Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority, the state government and other stakeholders in the state's aviation sector know the problems and have enough ideas on how to work towards aero safety, he claimed. "What is happening is that with scant regard for carrying capacity and safety protocols, and in a blind pursuit to establish new records in footfalls during Char Dham Yatra and other religious festivals, the entire system bends over backwards to accommodate far larger numbers than it can safely manage," Nautiyal said. Calling for a solution-oriented approach, he said that the first step should be a 360 degree state-level audit of all helipads and air operations, a serious relook at the carrying capacity, better coordination between aviation operators and district administrations, and above all, a commitment to putting lives before numbers and records. He urged Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority and other stakeholders to treat this not only as a crisis but a call for action. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
India Gazette
04-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Planning expansion of heliports in hilly states: Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], July 4 (ANI): Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Friday announced that the government is working on a plan towards the expansion of airports and helipads in hilly areas of the country. Naidu stated that under the Regional Connectivity Scheme, several airports from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh are being built. 'We already have a plan for the expansion of heliports in hilly states. Under our Regional Connectivity Scheme, several airports from J&K to Arunachal Pradesh are being built', Ram Mohan Naidu told reporters in Dehradun. The Union Minister stated that there are 18 heliports in Uttarakhand, and as far as safety is concerned, the weather conditions and geographical terrains pose difficulties in the operations of helicopters. Ram Mohan Naidu stressed that India is currently studying 'world-class' standards and informed about suggestions regarding increasing Air Traffic Control (ATC) in Uttarakhand. '18 heliports are also here. As far as safety is concerned, weather conditions and geographical terrain pose difficulties in helicopter operations. So, in this connection, we are studying world-class standards. We have received 2-3 suggestions that there should be more ATC systems. Setting up ATC is also a challenge due to the geographical terrain. So, we are also trying to have even more impact of ATC in the Char Dham network', the Union Minister said. The Union Minister stated that the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority and the Ministry of Civil Aviation are holding discussions to improve operations in Uttarakhand and the safety of the devotees coming for the Char Dham Yatra 'So, we have started the efforts. Changes, if any, regarding the arrangement for pilots or the frequency of helicopter operations have to be made. Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority and the Ministry of Civil Aviation are holding detailed discussions to make operations better here. When it begins again in September, decisions will have been made by then to have accurate and better operations here. It is our responsibility to ensure the safety of devotees coming for the Char Dham Yatra. There is no compromise in safety', Ram Mohan Naidu told reporters. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday participated in the Northern Region Ministers Conference on Civil Aviation in Dehradun. Following the event, CM Dhami asserted that his government will discuss increasing the air connectivity in the northern part of India. He expressed happiness over Uttarakhand being chosen as the host of the conference and mentioned that it shows the Union Government's interest towards increasing air services in the state. 'We will discuss how to expand air services in the northern regions of the country, how to increase facilities, and how to expand airports... Uttarakhand being chosen as the host for the conference shows that in a border area like ours, the central government is making serious efforts to increase air services', CM Dhami said while addressing the reporters in Dehradun.
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Time of India
6k tickets cancelled, Kedarnath choppers to be grounded till Sept 15
Dehradun: Chopper operations to Kedarnath remained suspended for the seventh straight day on Saturday after a crash killed seven people on June 15, grounding eight operators, cancelling thousands of bookings and causing financial losses over Rs 4 crore in Rudraprayag district. Sources said helicopter services are expected to resume only around Sept 15, after the end of the monsoon season. District tourism officer Rahul Chaubey said no bookings were made beyond June 22 due to the halt, which was initiated in the wake of monsoon and pending safety directives. Chaubey, who also oversees helicopter services on the Kedarnath route, said, "Around 900 tickets are being cancelled each day as the choppers are not operating since June 15, which means anything between 5,400 to 6,000 tickets have been cancelled in this duration. We are waiting for instructions from U ttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) before proceeding any further." Since the Kedarnath yatra began, 56,044 pilgrims have taken helicopter rides from Guptkashi, Sirsi and Phata, while 54,209 have returned from Kedarnath to these helipads. The June 15 incident was the fifth helicopter-related mishap on the Char Dham route in 45 days. On May 8, six people died in a crash near Gangotri In response to the rising number of crashes, Uttarakhand high court took suo motu cognisance of the June 15 incident and sought a reply from the state on safety lapses. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami directed the implementation of stricter norms, including the deployment of twin-engine helicopters, mandatory real-time weather cameras, and regular fitness checks for choppers. He also ordered a command-and-control centre to be set up in Dehradun. Environmental concerns have also surfaced, with residents and activists flagging the ecological toll of frequent helicopter traffic on the fragile Himalayan region, calling for operations to be suspended until proper safeguards are enforced.
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Time of India
6k trees in elephant corridor face axe for Doon airport expansion
Dehradun: Around 6,000 trees in Uttarakhand's Shivalik Elephant Reserve are likely to be felled for the planned expansion of Jolly Grant Airport, forest officials said on Thursday. The proposal involves diversion of approximately 48 hectares (about 110 acres) of forest land, and the tree enumeration in the affected area has been completed. NS Dobhal, ranger of the Thano Forest Range under the Dehradun Forest Division, said, "About 6,000 trees have been counted in the area and the details have been sent to the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), which is overseeing the project, for further action." He added that the next step involves the user agency uploading a proposal on the Parivesh portal as per Forest Conservation Act guidelines. The forest department will then examine the proposal before it is sent to the ministry for further clearances and approvals. Shahwant Sharma, manager of Jolly Grant Airport, told TOI, "The state govt is in the final stages of identifying the land to be handed over to the Airports Authority of India for the airport's expansion. We expect the handover to be completed within the next three months. The state govt is overseeing both the land acquisition and the tree removal process." The development has drawn criticism from conservationists, especially as it comes despite chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami's 2022 assurance, made during Wildlife Week, that "no trees would be cut in the reserve for development projects". The area identified for diversion falls within a riverine ecosystem that sustains elephants, leopards and several species of antelope. Conservationists have flagged concerns over habitat fragmentation in the Thano, Badkot and Rishikesh forest ranges due to rapid urbanisation and infrastructure projects. "Forests are vital for recharging river systems. The wellbeing of this forest directly affects the Chandrabhaga river, which supports both wildlife and local communities. Many animals come regularly to its banks to drink," said veteran environmentalist Ravi Chopra. The airport expansion has faced ecological scrutiny since 2020. The Shivalik Elephant Reserve was briefly denotified to facilitate the project, but was later re-notified following legal challenges and public outcry. A previous proposal had sought the diversion of 87 hectares (214 acres) of forest land, requiring nearly 9,700 trees to be cut, but it was shelved after strong opposition. In addition to the airport project, around 4,000 trees in the Shivalik Elephant Reserve were also marked for felling for the proposed four-laning of the Bhaniyawala–Rishikesh road. The road would run close to Rajaji Tiger Reserve, which is home to tigers, elephants, leopards, and several species of antelope. That project too faced protests from residents and environmentalists. In Aug 2020, around 2,500 century-old Sal trees were cut down for the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway to reduce travel time by 15 minutes. Conservationists then also objected to the removal of trees from the forest corridor.
India.com
17-06-2025
- Climate
- India.com
Helicopter Services In Kedarnath Resumes After Rudraprayag Accident
DEHRADUN: Helicopter operations at the Kedarnath Dham in Uttarakhand have resumed, and the tourists have been told to plan their journey according to the weather, according to CEO of Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority. The official, Sonika said that flying in the region has not resumed but will resume once the weather improves. "Heli operations have resumed today. As the weather is not favourable currently, flying has not resumed yet. But as soon as we get clear weather, flying will resume", Sonika told ANI. On Sunday monring, seven people, including the pilot of a helicopter died after it crashed near the forested area of Gaurikund in Uttarakhand's Rudraprayag district, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) said. The Aryan Aviation Helicopter was flying to Guptkashi from the Kedarnath Dham when it crashed at 5:30 am on Sunday. The deceased were identified as Captain Rajbir Singh Chauhan (39), resident of Jaipur, Vikram Rawat (47) a Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee representative and resident of Rasi, Vinod Devi (66), resident of Uttar Pradesh, Trishti Singh (19), resident of Uttar Pradesh, Rajkumar Suresh Jaiswal (41), resident of Gujarat, Shraddha Rajkumar Jaiswal and Kashi (2), resident of Maharashtra. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held a virtual high-level meeting with senior officials from the CM residence after the crash. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is investigating the crash, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) stated. The DGCA further said that, in light of the crash, the frequency of helicopter operations at Char Dham would be reduced as a precautionary measure. DGCA is also carrying out enhanced surveillance and operational reviews. Chief Executive Officer of Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Department (UCADA), Sonika had stated that helicopter shuttle services in the area had been closed, given the ongoing relief operations and weather conditions in the valley.
