Following reports of overcharging of fare by the aviation companies operating helicopter flights to Kedarnath, the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority has imposed an upper limit on the fare charged by these companies.
The Additional Chief Secretary, Civil Aviation Om Prakash said that Helicopter shuttle service is being provided by Civil Aviation department through private Heli service providers from Guptkashi, Phata and Sirsi Helipads to Kedarnath in the Mandakini valley of Rudraprayag district. He informed that the tariffs for Heli service providers have been fixed duly.
The Heli service for Guptkashi to Kedardham would be provided by Aero Trans Bharat and Aryan Aviation and for it they would charge a fare of Rs 7300 per person. The Pawan Hans, UT Air and Pinnacle Aviation will provide Heli shuttle service form Phata to Kedarnath and for it the fare would be Rs s6700. Similarly the shuttle service from Sirsi to Kedarnath would be provided by Himalyan, Heritage and Global Aviation companies on a tariff of Rs 6350.
Om Prakash informed that the Heli companies would do 70 percent online booking while 30 percent booking would be offline. He said that if any Heli service operators or their agents charge more than the laid down tariff or the Heli service, then the pilgrims can complaint to the authorities. The complaint can be made at Additional Chief Secretary or The senior personal secretary to ACS G C Gunwant on mobile number 9927699882 or on email (jcgunwant1972@gmail.com) . The complaint can also be made to District Magistrates of Rudraprayag, Dehradun and Haridwar.