Tuesday, 06 April 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
Within three days of the start of the online booking process for helicopter service to Kedarnath over 1,600 tickets were booked till late Monday evening. The Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) started the online booking service from April 3 which was earlier proposed to commence on April 1. The officials informed that over 700 tickets were booked online on the first day of the online booking process and according to them, the booking of the tickets will increase with time. They said that most of the pilgrims that book the heli services during Char Dham Yatra belong to other States.
As per the data provided by the officials, over 1,600 tickets have been booked online for over 7,000 passengers in the just three days for Kedarnath so far. According to the chief executive officer (CEO) of UCADA, Ashish Chauhan, 70 per cent of the ticket booking of heli services would be done through online mode while the booking for 30 percent tickets would be done through the offline mode. He said that the administration is also working towards making the whole ticket booking procedure for heli services secure and transparent this year. Also, the administration plans to install hi-tech cameras in helipads to ensure proper services to pilgrims during their journey as many pilgrims had complained of being overcharged for the tickets for helicopter services during the Char Dham Yatra in the past, informed Chauhan.
The officials further informed that the nine operators which were selected by the UCADA last year through the tender procedure will provide heli services this year too at the same prices. Two operators will be available for heli services in Guptkashi, four operators in Phata and three operators in Sersi. The fare for the round trip to Kedarnath from Guptkashi, Phata and Sersi are Rs 7,750, Rs 4,720 and Rs 4,680 respectively. Officials stated that interested pilgrims and passengers can check out the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) website heliservices.uk.gov.in for the necessary and updated details of the ticket booking for heli services to Kedarnath.
