Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday launched the online helicopter booking portal for the Amarnath Yatra which is scheduled to start from June 30.
“Launched online helicopter booking service portal for Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra. For the first time, devotees can travel with ease directly from Srinagar to Panchtarni and complete the holy yatra in a single day,” LG Sinha tweeted after launching the portal.
Sinha said it was a long pending endeavour of the government to introduce the chopper services for the pilgrims from Srinagar.
“It was a long pending endeavour of the government to introduce heli services from Srinagar for better connectivity and accessibility. Devotees can easily log on to the Shrine Board’s website for the booking,” he said.
The annual Yatra is scheduled to begin from June 30 and will conclude on August 11, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan. More than 10 lakh pilgrims are expected to perform the pilgrimage this year.
Meanwhile, an official spokesman said that while dedicating new online service to the devotees of Shri Amarnath Ji, the Lt Governor said, “It was a long pending endeavour of the Government to introduce heli services from Srinagar for better connectivity and accessibility”.
The Lt Governor directed the Shrine Board and NIC officials to ensure hassle free and secure online helicopter booking service for the pilgrims.
The spokesman said that Nitishwar Kumar, Principal Secretary to Lt Governor briefed the Lt Governor about the new helicopter booking service portal for Shri Amarnath Ji yatra.
Earlier, helicopter services were operational for only two sectors, but now, the pilgrims can avail the services in four sectors (to & fro) viz. Srinagar to Neelgrath, Srinagar to Pahalgam, Neelgrath to Panchtarni, & Pahalgam to Panchtarni, with total 11 helicopters to remain available for the passengers. Addition of two new sectors from Srinagar will encourage those yatris who wish to complete the yatra in a single day, and can return home, said the spokesman.
This facility is also available for the devotees who want to travel only one way. The one-way tariff from Srinagar to Neelgrath shall be Rs. 11,700; Srinagar to Pahalgam Rs. 10,800; Neelgrath to Panchtarni Rs. 2,800 and Pahalgam to Panchtarni Rs. 4,200, said the spokesman.
