Devotees to Pay More: 40% Increase in Kedarnath Helicopter Fares Likely Due to New Safety Protocols

Dehradun (The Uttam Hindu): With the departure of monsoon, the second phase of Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand is expected to resume from September 15. But this time, devotees visiting Kedarnath Dham by helicopter may have to loosen their pockets a lot. Due to new and strict safety standards, the fare of helicopter services is expected to increase by more than 40 percent.

Learning from the helicopter accidents that happened in the state this year, the government has made the rules very strict for the second phase. According to the new standards set by the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UKADA), now helicopter companies will neither be able to make flights arbitrarily nor carry more passengers than the capacity. There will also be a complete ban on flying in bad weather. Due to these changes, the number of helicopter flights will decrease, which will increase the cost and this will have a direct impact on the fares.

While in the first phase, 9 helicopter companies used to fly 250 to 270 flights daily, now under the new rules, only 7 companies have been allowed and they will be able to fly only 184 flights on one side. A special mechanism is also being developed to monitor the flights, which will include representatives of DGCA, ATC and UKADA. Apart from this, weather stations will also be installed for accurate weather information.

Online booking of heli services for pilgrims will be started from September 10, and the services will operate from September 15. The government's aim is clear - to make the journey safer than ever despite it being more expensive.