Dehradun, July 5 -- Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday urged union civil aviation minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu to formulate a separate aviation policy for hill states. Dhami participated in Northern Region Ministers' Conference on Civil Aviation in Dehradun, attended by union civil aviation minister and civil aviation ministers from northern states. "The policy should include provisions for special financial assistance, operational subsidies, suitable ATC (Air Traffic Control) networks for hill regions, accurate weather forecasting systems, dedicated flight slotting, and proactive disaster preparedness," he said. Dhami said the conference is a testimony to the historic progress made in the civil aviation sector under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He added that the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme has not only made air travel more accessible for citizens by connecting small towns and remote areas with air services but has also strengthened the local economies. Dhami said that 18 heliports are currently under development in the state, out of which services have commenced at 12 locations. He said that in a hill state like Uttarakhand, helicopter services are not merely a mode of transportation but a vital lifeline. "Whether in disaster management, healthcare, or religious pilgrimage, helicopter services have provided unprecedented convenience and accessibility," he said. He appealed all aviation operators to ensure specialised pilot training for flying in hill regions, strict adherence to safety protocols, and the highest standards of passenger safety. Meanwhile, a special session on "Opportunities in Civil Aviation for States" was organised at the conference. During the session, various experts gave presentations on the potential and possibilities in the civil aviation sector. Asangba Chuba, joint secretary, union ministry of civil aviation, spoke about the UDAN scheme, highlighting how it has strengthened air connectivity across various states. He mentioned that efforts are underway to expand operations on new routes. "So far, 625 RCS (Regional Connectivity Scheme) routes have been operationalized under the UDAN scheme, benefitting over 1.53 crore passengers," he said. He further informed that a modified UDAN scheme will be launched to benefit 4 crore passengers over the next 10 years by connecting 120 destinations....