By Garhwal Post Bureau
Rudraprayag, 2 Nov: Regular helicopter services operating from the Kedar Valley to Kedarnath Dham continued to function smoothly today, providing uninterrupted access to pilgrims visiting the shrine. Scheduled helicopter flights kept operating from the Sirsi, Phata and Guptkashi helipads, ferrying devotees to Kedarnath and back. However, long-distance chartered helicopter services, usually operating from Dehradun or Rishikesh remained suspended today after the private operators halted operations in protest against the mandatory requirement of deploying two pilots on flights following the recent helicopter accident near Badrinath.
The decision has directly affected charter helicopter services operating from Sahastradhara helipad in Dehradun to Kedarnath and Badrinath Dhams. Prior to the suspension, around 50 to 60 charter flights were being operated daily on favourable weather days. With the private operators discontinuing services, long-distance helicopter connectivity to the shrines has been impacted. However, the suspension has not affected the regular shuttle services operating from the Kedar Valley sectors.
Regular helicopter operations from the Sirsi, Phata and Guptkashi sectors have continued as per the scheduled arrangements, offering relief to pilgrims travelling to Kedarnath. To ensure the safe operation of flights and provide real-time weather updates, an Air Traffic Control (ATC) facility has been established in the Sirsi sector. The ATC continuously provides helicopter operators with weather information, enabling flight operations to be coordinated in accordance with prevailing weather conditions and safety requirements.
Whilethe pilgrims continue to arrive for darshan at Kedarnath Dham during the final phase of the Char Dham Yatra, the suspension of charter helicopter services has affected the convenience of those wishing to travel directly from distant locations like Dehradun to the shrine. Attention is now focused on resolving the ongoing deadlock between the private charter operators and the regulatory authorities concerned.
District Tourism Officer Rahul Chaubey said that regular helicopter services operating from the Sirsi, Phata and Guptkashi sectors in the Kedar Valley are running smoothly. He however conceded that long-distance chartered services have been suspended by the operators themselves.
It may be recalled that helicopter operators engaged in services on the Char Dham Yatra route had announced the suspension of all chartered flights from today onwards, in protest against a new Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) regulation. The operators have objected to the decision mandating two pilots on every flight, stating that it was imposed without adequate consultation and without assessing its commercial implications. Following the decision, helicopter operators jointly submitted their objections to the DGCA and the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA), seeking reconsideration of the requirement.
