Following the closure of the national highway 58 to Badrinath near Marwadi, Joshimath to traffic by rockfall debris, the State Government claims that a helicopter service has been started for pilgrims but only a limited number of people are benefiting from this facility. Though the State Government and district administration claim to be providing the helicopter service especially for women, children and the elderly, many pilgrims arriving here are complaining of arbitrary nature of the administration’s facilitation of the helicopter service.
The NH 58 has been closed to traffic for about a week now due to debris at Hathiparvat near Marwadi. Many pilgrims and local travellers are walking on the old bridle path from Marwadi to Vishnuprayag en route Badrinath. The government has started a chopper service till the road is blocked to traffic but many pilgrims are not being able to use this facility. The district administration is supposed to facilitate the helicopter service but many pilgrims arriving here from other States are not being able to use this facility since the service provider company generally undertakes only a few trips a day. As per this facility, pilgrims can fly by helicopter from Joshimath to Govindghat by paying just Rs 750 per head for men and Rs 500 per head for women, children and senior citizens. However, many pilgrims arriving here complain that they have not been able to avail of this service.
Chamoli district magistrate Ashok Kumar said that the administration has access to only one helicopter which is mainly for ferrying the aged, infirm, women and children. However, in reality even locals who are not among the main intended beneficiaries of the facility are availing of the chopper service. On Monday, the helicopter flights stopped in the afternoon. Though blasts were carried out to clear the road work has not been completed till the time of filing this report. The highway is expected to be cleared either by late Monday night or on Tuesday.