Dehradun, Sept. 16 -- Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday said the Uttarakhand government is committed to strengthening air, rail and road connectivity across the state, a move he stressed will not only give a major push to tourism but also generate new opportunities for investment, business and employment. Dhami highlighted the boost for tourism after inaugurating Air India Express' new daily direct service between Dehradun and Bengaluru at the Jolly Grant airport. He described the launch as a "historic step" towards expanding the state's air connectivity and said it marks a new chapter in Uttarakhand's growth story. "Improved connectivity has a direct link to economic and social development. Tourism is the backbone of Uttarakhand's economy, and better connectivity will make the state more accessible to travellers. At the same time, it will encourage investors, entrepreneurs and businesses to look at Uttarakhand with greater confidence. Our government has been making consistent efforts to ensure that every region of the state benefits from enhanced transport links," Dhami said. The chief minister underlined that the government has taken a series of policy and infrastructure decisions in recent years to strengthen aviation in Uttarakhand. He pointed out that regional airports in Pithoragarh, Chinyalisaur, Gauchar and Naini Saini were being activated, while Jolly Grant Airport was being upgraded with international-level facilities. Work on the expansion of Pantnagar Airport, he said, was moving at a rapid pace and would prove change for the Kumaon region. Highlighting the specific benefits of the new Dehradun-Bengaluru flight, Dhami said the service will provide immense convenience to the large number of students, IT professionals, entrepreneurs and startup founders from Uttarakhand who live and work in Bengaluru, the country's technology capital. "Thousands of youth are engaged in education, services and startups in Bengaluru. This direct service will connect them closely with their home state and will also open new possibilities for tourism and trade between Uttarakhand and Karnataka," he said. The chief minister also thanked Air India Express for starting the service, saying the airline had understood the aspirations and requirements of the people of Uttarakhand. He expressed hope that more airlines would follow suit and increase the number of flights connecting Uttarakhand with other major metros. Aloke Singh, managing director of Air India Express, said the launch underlined the airline's commitment to expanding its network rapidly. "We are delighted to commence operations from Dehradun, our 58th station, with direct daily flights to Bengaluru, our largest domestic hub. This new route not only connects Uttarakhand directly to the economic and educational hubs of Bengaluru but also offers convenient one-stop connections to 18 more cities including Chennai, Goa, Kochi, Kozhikode, Pune, Ranchi, Thiruvananthapuram and Visakhapatnam. With our fleet now comprising over 115 aircraft, we are building a stronger and more accessible network," Singh said. The inaugural service was operated by a Boeing 737-8 aircraft that prominently displayed a tail design inspired by Uttarakhand's traditional Aipan art, part of Air India Express' 'Tales of India' initiative to showcase the country's diverse culture. The flight took off from Dehradun at 4.30pm and landed in Bengaluru at 7.30pm. Dhami also inspected facilities at the Jolly Grant Airport and directed officials to ensure high-quality services for passengers. He reiterated that the government's "Air Connectivity Improvement Project" will continue to provide airlines with incentives to strengthen Uttarakhand's links with the rest of the country....