• Other

    Kedarnath flights cut, safety steps enhanced for Char Dham Yatra

    AnyFans Posted on

    By Aneesh Phadnis

    Copyright thehindubusinessline

    Kedarnath flights cut, safety steps enhanced for Char Dham Yatra

    Helicopter movements to Kedarnath shrine have been cut by 30 per cent and ticket price of shuttle service has been hiked by around 50 per cent with the restart of operations.

    The curtailment of flights has been ordered by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) as a safety step following four accidents in May and June.

    “Air traffic controllers and meteorology officials are being deployed at key helipads and the number of pan-tilt-zoom cameras enroute is being increased to give a better visibility of weather. Two control rooms have been set up. Bids have also been called for installation of automated weather observation system and ceilometer on Char Dham yatra route,” said Ashish Chauhan, CEO of Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA).

    Helicopter operators selected by UCADA provide charter flights covering all Char Dham shrines and also run shuttle services to Kedarnath from three locations in the Mandakini valley.

    Shuttle service

    The shuttle service is halted by most operators during monsoon each year. However this year there was a complete ban on commercial flights post June 22 as the government reviewed safety measures. The shuttle service was expected to begin on Monday but the resumption got deferred as DGCA officials could not conduct on site inspection at Kedarnath due to adverse weather.

    On Sunday, DGCA officials held a meeting with all helicopter operators and pilots to apprise them of additional safety measures and instructed them to follow all the norms. The civil aviation regulator has also revised its operation circular to improve safety of Chardham flights.

    Civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu also met Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami last week for a comprehensive review of aviation infrastructure in the State.

    “We also discussed resumption of Char Dham Yatra Helicopter Services with a special mandate for safety of operations. The meeting was attended by civil aviation secretary Samir Kumar Sinha, DGCA DG Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Airport Authority of India chairman Vipin Kumar and other senior officials. Active collaboration with the state government is being ensured for effective management and comfortable experience for the pilgrims,” Naidu said in a X post.

    Published on September 15, 2025

    You Might Also Like