Summary
Helicopter services are available for traveling to the Kedarnath Dham temple from three helipads: Guptkashi, Sirsi, and Phata. This year, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has been assigned the task of managing ticket bookings for these helicopter services. Passengers can make their bookings through the IRCTC website or mobile app. The Heli service is a convenient and time-saving option for pilgrims visiting Kedarnath Dham, and the involvement of IRCTC is expected to streamline the ticket booking process and ensure a hassle-free experience for travelers.
Expansion
Nine aviation companies will once again provide helicopter services for the Kedarnath segment of the Chardham Yatra pilgrimage. The companies have been invited to submit tenders by March 2 to be considered for operations. Once the selection process is complete and fares have been finalized, online bookings for the Heli service are expected to commence in April. This is a convenient and time-efficient option for pilgrims to visit the Kedarnath temple, and the involvement of multiple aviation companies is expected to ensure competition and reasonable pricing for the service.
The Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) has initiated the tender process for the Kedarnath Heli Service, which will be awarded to nine aviation companies for a three-year period. The selection process will consider various factors such as rental rates, experience in Heli service, and technical parameters before finalizing the companies. UCADA aims to complete the contract process in March and start online bookings for the Heli service in April. However, it is expected that there will be a 15 to 20 percent increase in the fare of the Heli service this time, as the fares have remained unchanged for the past three years. The Kedarnath Heli Service is a convenient option for pilgrims visiting the Kedarnath temple, and the involvement of multiple companies ensures healthy competition and reasonable pricing.
If companies are found, heli service can be started from Sahasradhara as well.
To cater to the increasing demand for helicopter services to Guptkashi, Sirsi, and Phata, the government is considering starting heli services from Sahasradhara as well. The Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) has invited applications from companies to operate these services. Currently, only chartered helicopters are available from Sahasradhara, with fares exceeding three lakhs. However, it is expected that operating heli services from Sahasradhara will not be feasible for companies at lower fares. Nonetheless, this move is expected to provide pilgrims with additional options for traveling to the Kedarnath temple and ease the rush at other heliports.
These companies operated for three years
Since 2020, nine aviation companies have been operating heli services from Sirsi, Phata, and Gupt Kashi to the Kedarnath temple. From Guptkashi, Arrow Air Craft and Aryan Aviation provide heli services, while Pawan Hans, Chipson Aviation, Thambi Aviation, and Pinnacle Air operate from Phata. From Sirsi, Arrow Air Craft, Himalayan Heli, and Ketral Aviation provide helicopter services to Kedarnath. These services are a convenient and time-saving option for pilgrims visiting the Kedarnath temple. With multiple aviation companies operating heli services, there is healthy competition and reasonable pricing for the service.
Black marketing of Heli tickets will be banned
During the Chardham Yatra, pilgrims face numerous challenges while booking heli services to Kedarnath. Long waiting times and higher fares than the fixed rates are among the main issues that passengers have to deal with. In an effort to address these concerns, the responsibility of booking tickets for the heli service has been given to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) this year. This move is expected to streamline the ticket booking process and ensure that passengers are not overcharged for the service. It will provide greater convenience and transparency for pilgrims visiting the Kedarnath temple via helicopter.
