CM seeks grant for 3 new airports in Uttarakhand

Keeping in view the strategic importance of Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nisahank today sought from the Centre the development of three new airports and new railway lines in the hill state.

Nishank said the Centre should develop — Naini-Saini airport in Pithoragarh district, Chaniyalisaur in Uttarkashi and Gauchar in Chamoli district with the cent per cent “infrastructure grant”. “All these three airports are located near the international borders which are strategically very important,” he said in a representation to Montek Singh Ahluwalia Deputy Chairperson of the Planning Commission.

The Chief Minister sighted the examples of Pakyong airport in Sikkim, Itanagar in Arunchal Pradesh and Cheithu in Nagaland which are being developed. The three airports in Uttarakhand can also be developed by the Airport Authority of India similarly, Nishank emphasised.

The development of the three airports would not only give fillip to the tourism sector in the hill state but also help in providing quick relief during the time of natural disasters, he said.

Stating that China was developing new railway network on the border areas with India especially near Taklakot, Nishank also urged the centre to develop new railway lines in the state and strengthen the old network. In case of a war, these railway lines especially the proposed lines between Rishikesh-Karanprayag and Tanakpur-Bageshwar would help in the army in sending reinforcements at the borders, the Chief Minister said.

Despite the fact that railway is a central subject, he lamented that the stress is being laid on sharing 50 percent of the total cost of the new railway projects. In this regard, he pointed out that the Roorkee-Muzaffarnagar railway line failed to take off despite Uttarakhand sharing 50 percent of the total cost.

Nishank also asked the centre to set up a separate Himalayan development authority for the overall development of the imalayan states like Uttarakhand, Himachal and Jammu and Kashmir.

“Meanwhile, the centre must come out with a separate Himalayan policy till the formation of such authority,” he said.

Nishank also proposed a Himalayan highway linking Shimla with Lohaghat in Champawat district of Uttarakhand keeping in view the development of the hill state and the national security.