By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 5 Feb: Preparations for the forthcoming Char Dham Yatra, scheduled to begin in April this year, have intensified with coordinated efforts by the Tourism Department and the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee. In addition, Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) has also initiated and advanced the tender process for helicopter services for the upcoming Yatra season. The pilgrimage is set to begin with the opening of the portals of Yamunotri and Gangotri on Akshaya Tritiya, while the portals of Badrinath Dham will open on 23 April. The date for the opening of the portals of Kedarnath Dham will be decided on Mahashivratri, following which the final operational schedule and booking timeline for helicopter services will be notified.
UCADA has clarified that there will be no increase in helicopter fares this year, despite a continued reduction in flight operations. In a significant development, shuttle helicopter services will be extended to Badrinath Dham in addition to Kedarnath Dham during this yatra season. The tender process for heli-services between Gauchar and Badrinath Dham has already been completed and the fare structure for this route will be finalised shortly. At the same time, a fresh tender process has been initiated for helicopter services to Kedarnath Dham.
It may be reminded here that the chopper services to Kedarnath are traditionally operated from Guptkashi, Sirsi and Phata helipads by several aviation companies. The earlier contracts awarded in 2023 expired in 2025, making it necessary to issue new tenders. In view of the heavy demand for heli-services and heightened safety concerns following two major helicopter accidents in Uttarkashi and the Kedar Valley region last year, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued detailed operational and safety guidelines, which have been incorporated into the new tender conditions.
During the second phase of the yatra last year, the helicopter fares for Kedarnath were increased by 40 to 50 per cent after a 30 per cent reduction in the number of sorties was enforced to enhance safety. This year, UCADA and the DGCA have decided to maintain the same safety protocols without increasing the fares. To further strengthen operational safety and ensure real-time weather monitoring, Air Traffic Control towers are being established at both Kedarnath and Badrinath Dhams, aimed at preventing weather-related incidents in the high-altitude region.
A preliminary coordination meeting between UCADA and the DGCA has also been held to review safety arrangements for the April operations. It has been decided that helicopters will not be permitted to fly in conditions of sudden weather deterioration and that all operations will be strictly limited to the period between sunrise and sunset. The 30 percent reduction in the total number of helicopter sorties for Kedarnath will continue this year, while fares will remain at last year’s revised levels. Accordingly, the Guptkashi–Kedarnath fare is expected to remain at Rs 12,444 per person, the Phata–Kedarnath fare at Rs 8,842 per person, and the Sirsi–Kedarnath fare at Rs 8,839 per person.
UCADA Chief Executive Officer Ashish Chauhan shared with the media that the tender process for Kedarnath heli-services was initiated after completing all the required documentation and that the new tenders strictly adhere to the DGCA guidelines issued last year. He confirmed that as the reduced number of shuttle flights remains unchanged, there will be no revision in ticket prices. Chauhan also said that on the instructions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, helicopter services from Gauchar to Badrinath Dham are being introduced to provide an additional facility for pilgrims, with the tender process for this route already completed.
To ensure close monitoring of operations, officials from the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the India Meteorological Department and the DGCA will be stationed at Sahastradhara Heliport. This arrangement will facilitate continuous weather assessment and strict enforcement of operational norms, with immediate action to be taken in case of any violations.
While heli-services for Kedarnath and Badrinath have been finalised, a decision regarding shuttle services for Gangotri and Yamunotri is still pending. Although a helipad was constructed at Yamunotri last year, technical shortcomings and the need for further expansion have rendered it unsuitable for operations at present, making the launch o chopper services there unlikely this year.
To curb the ticket hoarding and the black marketing, which has been a persistent issue during the yatra, UCADA will work in coordination with the district administration, the police and the Information Technology Development Agency (ITDA). The measures will include public awareness campaigns against fake websites and unauthorised agents, as well as a robust monitoring mechanism to ensure swift action against overcharging and illegal ticket sales, with the objective of maintaining transparency and protecting pilgrims’ interests during the Chardham Yatra.
