The Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department is preparing to restart the air service to Dudhwa National Park, this time from New Delhi, after the previous Lucknow-Dudhwa route was discontinued due to low passenger turnout. A proposal is expected to be sent to the central government shortly, with plans to inaugurate the service at the start of the Dudhwa season on November 15.
Discussions regarding the initiative have already been held with Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. Following directives from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to connect major eco-tourism destinations by air, the department had launched a 12-seater aircraft service from Lucknow to Dudhwa last year.
The service was inaugurated by Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh on November 25 during the Lakhimpur Kheri Day celebrations, but was discontinued shortly after due to limited passenger demand.
The new service from New Delhi will cover a distance of approximately 430 km, reducing the travel time from over nine hours by road to around one and a half hours by air. Tourists will also be treated to aerial views of Dudhwa’s forests and the Suheli and Mohana rivers during the flight. The fare is expected to be around Rs 5,000. The operator for the service has already been selected.
The Dudhwa airstrip in Palia, Lakhimpur Kheri, originally constructed in 1996 with a length of 1,753 metres and a width of 50 metres, will be used for the service. Last year, the government invested Rs 274.22 crore to expand the airstrip, acquiring 265.19 hectares of land to enable the landing of aircraft with a capacity of at least 72 seats.
With the Delhi-Dudhwa air route, the state aims to boost eco-tourism in Uttar Pradesh and offer an alternative to tourists who often choose Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand due to the lengthy road journey to Dudhwa.