The Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) has initiated preparations for helicopter services ahead of the upcoming Char Dham Yatra and has started the tender process for Kedarnath heli services. UCADA has clarified that the fare for Kedarnath helicopter services will not be increased this year, despite high demand during the pilgrimage season.
The Char Dham Yatra is scheduled to begin in April. The portals of Badrinath Dham will open on April 23, while the opening date of Kedarnath Dham will be announced on the occasion of Mahashivratri. Keeping passenger safety as a priority, UCADA has begun early planning for helicopter operations, especially for Kedarnath, which witnesses the highest number of heli passengers.
Last year, helicopter operations faced scrutiny after two major helicopter accidents in Uttarkashi and the Kedarnath valley raised serious safety concerns. In view of these incidents, both the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and UCADA are taking a stricter approach to safety compliance this year.
Currently, nine aviation companies operate helicopter services to Kedarnath from Guptkashi, Sirsi, and Phata helipads. As the existing contracts with these companies are set to expire in 2025, UCADA has invited fresh tenders for the upcoming yatra season. While a five percent fare hike was implemented during the second phase of last year’s pilgrimage, authorities have decided to keep the fares unchanged this year.
To enhance flight safety in the Himalayan region, Air Traffic Control (ATC) towers will be installed at Kedarnath and Badrinath. These towers will provide real-time weather updates, allowing authorities to restrict flights immediately if weather conditions deteriorate. DGCA has also decided to continue its earlier directive of reducing helicopter flight operations by 30 percent for Kedarnath to minimize risk.
UCADA has already held its first coordination meeting with DGCA to review safety arrangements for heli services in Mandakini Valley, Badrinath, and Uttarkashi sectors. Officials discussed strict monitoring of both scheduled heli services and chartered flights during the pilgrimage.
As per the existing fare structure, helicopter ticket prices will remain as follows: ₹12,444 from Guptkashi to Kedarnath, ₹8,842 from Phata to Kedarnath, and ₹8,839 from Sirsi to Kedarnath.
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UCADA CEO Ashish Chauhan stated that the tender process has been initiated and no fare hike will be allowed this year. He added that helicopter operations during the Char Dham Yatra will be closely monitored and safety norms will be enforced rigorously in coordination with DGCA.
