Summary
In the year 2023, for the Char Dham Yatra, the booking of tickets will be carried out in two phases. In the first phase, interested individuals can book their tickets through the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) portal. Following this, the responsibility of online ticket booking will be transferred to IRCTC. Therefore, individuals who wish to embark on the Char Dham Yatra in 2023 can book their tickets online through the GMVN portal in the first phase, and subsequently through the IRCTC platform in the second phase.
Expansion
According to recent reports, the cost of helicopter travel to Kedarnath during the upcoming Chardham Yatra may be increased by around 20% compared to last year’s prices. This is due to the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) launching a tender process for the Kedarnath Heli Service, which is scheduled to be completed by March 15. Following the tender process, a team from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will inspect the safety standards of the service. Therefore, travelers who plan to visit Kedarnath via helicopter during the Chardham Yatra in the near future should be prepared for a potential increase in the cost of travel, while ensuring that safety standards are upheld.
It has been reported that nine companies are expected to be awarded the contract for providing heli services this year, continuing the practice from previous years. According to the Secretary of Civil Aviation, Dilip Jawalkar, efforts are being made to begin the heli service as soon as possible. In the first phase of the service, individuals can book their tickets through the portal of Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN). Therefore, for those planning to embark on the Char Dham Yatra this year and are interested in the heli service, it is recommended to keep an eye out for updates and announcements regarding the service’s availability and ticket booking processes.
As per the recent statements made by Dilip Jawalkar, the Secretary of Civil Aviation, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has instructed to set a limit on the rent charges for helicopter services. It has been decided that any rental rates exceeding this limit will not be allowed. Moreover, Jawalkar mentioned that due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and economic conditions, the prices of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) have increased. As a result, operators may increase their fares based on this increase in fuel prices. Therefore, it is advisable for potential travelers to keep these factors in mind when planning their travel arrangements for the upcoming Char Dham Yatra.
The Indian government is taking measures to prevent the malpractice of ticket rigging that has been reported in previous years during the Char Dham Yatra. In order to address these issues, the government has decided to outsource the online booking of tickets to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). According to Dilip Jawalkar, the Secretary of Civil Aviation, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the government and IRCTC is ready and the contract is set to be for three years. This move is expected to improve the transparency and efficiency of the ticket booking process for travelers, as well as prevent fraudulent activities. Therefore, travelers planning to embark on the Char Dham Yatra in the near future can expect a smoother and more reliable ticket booking process due to these efforts by the Indian government.
