Book copter tickets to Amarnath shrine from April 25

JAMMU: At a yatra review meeting here, Umang Narula, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), informed Governor NN Vohra that the advance online booking of the helicopter tickets for this year’s Amarnath pilgrimage shall commence April 25.

Pilgrims on their way to the Amarnath cave. File photo

Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 23

At a yatra review meeting here, Umang Narula, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), informed Governor NN Vohra that the advance online booking of the helicopter tickets for this year’s Amarnath pilgrimage shall commence April 25.

The shrine board has finalised arrangements with UTAir India Pvt Ltd and Global Vectra Helicorp Ltd for the Neelgrath-Panjtarni-Neelgrath sector and with Himalayan Heli Services Pvt Ltd for the Pahalgam-Panjtarni-Pahalgam sector for providing helicopter services for the yatra which will start on June 29.

The CEO said the standard operating procedures for online booking of helicopter tickets had been formulated within the parameters of the Air Traffic Services Regulations. The tickets can be booked through the website of the respective heli-operators (www.utair-India.com, www.onlineglobalhelicorp and www. himalayanheli.com). The guidelines for booking the heli-tickets are available on the board’s website http://www.shriamarnathjishrine.com. Simultaneously, advance booking through the appointed travel agents will also commence on April 25.

The heli-tickets are provided to the passengers through online booking, agents appointed by the heli-operators, tour and travel associations and current booking counters at helipads. Heli-operators appoint eight agents, four each from Kashmir and Jammu divisions for the Neelgrath-Panjatarni sector and six agents for the Pahalgam-Panjtarni sector, three each from Kashmir and Jammu division.

The one-way fare per passenger is Rs 1,715 (inclusive of all taxes) for Neelgrath-Panjtarni and Rs 2,950 (inclusive of all taxes) for the Pahalgam-Panjtarni sector.

The CEO further said the yatris who wished to avail themselves of the heli-services were not required to seek advance registration through the designated bank branches as their applications for purchasing the heli-tickets contained the required information and the same shall be treated as the yatra permits. However, no yatri shall be allowed to board the helicopter unless he/she produces the required compulsory health certificate issued by an authorised doctor or institution.

The details of such institutions/authorised doctors are available on the board’s website. Children below the age of 13 years, elderly persons above 75 years of age and women more than six weeks pregnant shall not be permitted to undertake the pilgrimage.

The CEO urged the yatris to follow the do’s and don’ts available on the board’s website. He asked the helicopter operators to ensure all safety requirements and follow ethical trade practices in accordance with the safety regulations prescribed by the Director General of Civil Aviation/Air Traffic Controller and the terms and conditions of their agreements with the shrine board.