Dehradun, Feb. 25 -- The Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Department Authority (UCADA) plans to build helipads at portals of key mountain tunnels across the state to strengthen disaster management infrastructure, officials said on Tuesday. UCADA CEO Ashish Chauhan said aerial services played a crucial role in disaster management. "Road routes in mountainous areas are often blocked or time-consuming. In such situations, helicopter services can be a most effective means of delivering rapid relief. With this in mind, the department plans to develop helipads at the tunnel portals," he said.Officials said that helicopter services often emerge as the most effective and time-sensitive means of delivering emergency aid, evacuating stranded residents and pilgrims, transporting medical teams, and ensuring rapid deployment of disaster response forces.Officials said the 125-km Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail project, mostly through fragile tunnels, and incidents like the 2023 Silkyara collapse underline the need for disaster readiness. Tunnel portals can aid response operations. The proposal supports better connectivity and preparedness, alongside a separate hill aviation policy and 18 heliports under development, 12 operational.htc...