The new service, flagged off by Arunachal Pradesh Governor Gen (Retd) J J Singh, is expected to cut travel time to Tawang and boost tourism and create jobs in hotel and handicraft industry in Tawang and West Kameng districts of the hill state.

Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, who was present at the ceremony in Tawang, said he would seek to introduce helicopter services to Mechuka, Tuting, Hawai and Anini to attract domestic and foreign tourists to the places known for scenic beauty and handicraft.

With 75 per cent subsidy by Centre, the commercial service is the first project under the financial package which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced for the border state recently.

Tawang, located at an altitude of 10,200 ft, is the birth place of the sixth Dalai Lama and home of Gonpa, second only to the one at Lhasa.