The Kedarnath Yatra can take several hours, and for those unable to make the trek, the state government offers helicopter services as an alternative. Recently, due to bad weather conditions, the helicopter services were temporarily suspended in the region. Now, they are set to resume with the revised fare structure. The state government will increase the fare for these services by up to 40%. Scroll down to know more details.
Kedarnath Helicopter Services Price Surge Up By 40%
The helicopter services in Kedarnath were temporarily shut for some time, and now they will soon be resumed. Between May and June, four helicopter accidents were reported in Uttarakhand due to adverse weather conditions. For the public, the services remained closed for the entire monsoon. Now, the services are set to resume soon, and the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) has already approved the new fares with an increase of up to 40%. It means now the pilgrims will have to pay 31% to 40% more for a helicopter ride to reach the shrine, The Statesman reported. The three main points of the helicopter in Kedarnath are Guptkashi, Sirsi, and Phata helipads.
New prices for a helicopter ride in Kedarnath are as follows:
1. A round trip from Guptkashi to Kedarnath was previously ₹8,500, which is now increased to ₹12,444.
2. A round trip from Sirsi to Kedarnath will cost ₹8,900, which earlier cost ₹6,500.
3. A round trip from Phata to Kedarnath will now cost ₹8,500, up from ₹6,500
The ride from Guptkashi to Kedarnath has witnessed a 40% hike, whereas the ride from Sirsi to Kedarnath and Phata to Kedarnath increased by 37% and 31%, respectively.
Keeping public safety in mind, UCADA has announced the incorporation of new and advanced technology in helicopter services. It includes remotely controlled Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) cameras, a modern Air Traffic Control system, and VHF communication to keep an eye on weather conditions. Also, the authorities will set up one control centre in Sahastradhara, Dehradun and another in Sirsi, Rudraprayag.
Also Read: Ali Fazal Had A Near Death Experience In Kedarnath
Flights To Resume Soon
The state government is also planning to resume flight services just after the shrine closes for the winter season. In early 2025, the state authorities, UCADA, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) decided to suspend flights to Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Badrinath. Now that the monsoon season has almost come to an end, UCADA plans to resume flights from September 15, though final clearance from the DGCA is still awaited. You can book the tickets online from September 10 on the IRCTC portal, according to The Statesman.
Both flights and helicopter services are set to restart soon. What are your thoughts on the fare hike? Share with us in the comments!
Also Read: Kedarnath Yatra Temporarily Suspended Due To Landslide Near Munkatiya; 2000 Pilgrims Stranded
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