Monday, 21 November 2022 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) is gearing up to start direct heli service from Dehradun to Kedarnath and Badrinath during Char Dham Yatra. UCADA has sent a proposal for the same to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and if it approves, passengers would be able to get the heli service for Kedarnath and Badrinath from the Sahastradhara helipad.
Chairing a meeting on the weekend regarding the expansion of helicopter services across the State and providing good facilities to pilgrims in the Char Dham Yatra next year, Civil Aviation secretary Dilip Jawalkar said that UCADA has proposed additional routes for helicopter services from Dehradun to Badrinath, Kedarnath and from Kedarnath valley to Badrinath and Gauchar to Kedarnath among others. After checking the proposal, it will soon be sent to the government for approval.
Besides this, operators also apprised senior officials in the meeting about the inconvenience caused during ticketing and other operations due to excessive VIP traffic. It was also proposed in the meeting that the meteorological department should set up sub stations in Kedarnath. The officials also discussed the installation of cameras at various places in Kedar Valley and getting real-time information through the network. They decided to evaluate the plan and take the decision on it after taking technical advice from DGCA before the commencement of the Char Dham Yatra next year.
The representatives of helicopter agencies also appealed to the officials to run customer care software considering issues in ticket booking and their black marketing during Yatra. Jawalkar approved it while directing officials concerned to take strict action against the black marketing of tickets and make necessary changes in the portal for an easy ticket booking process. The officials also decided that cameras will be installed on every helipad ahead of Char Dham Yatra.
The secretary also instructed UCADA and GMVN officials to compulsorily verify the identity card mentioned on the ticket issued to pilgrims. He also informed that he recently inspected the construction site of the modern helidrome with 500 seating capacity which is being constructed as per international standards. He said that he has directed the officials concerned to finish the construction work before Char Dham Yatra next year.
