Vikas Gusain, Jagran, Dehradun: Fresh tenders will be invited for Kedarnath Heli service before the Chardham Yatra next year in the state. The reason is that the agreement made with the heli companies in the year 2023 will expire even before the start of the journey next year.
In such a situation, heli companies will be selected afresh to conduct the journey smoothly. It is believed that the safety standards for the heli service will be kept strict and the number of passengers can also be controlled. In such a situation, the travel fare may be a bit expensive. Heli services are operated for Kedarnath Dham every year in the state. This year, more than 1.40 lakh passengers visited Baba Kedar through heli service.
Due to this, heli companies did a business of more than Rs 56 crore. However, many complaints were also raised regarding heli service operations, ticket booking system, number of flights and safety standards.
Helicopter accidents also occurred. Two heli companies were also suspended. This was the reason that when the second phase of heli service started in September, it was kept under strict control. Fares for heli services were increased by 49 percent.
This year's yatra has ended and now UCADA (Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority) is preparing to operate heli services afresh after the three-year contracts with all the heli companies expire.
UCADA has now focused on safe heli services, taking lessons from the heli accidents that occurred this year. Strict rules regarding heli services were issued by DGCA in September itself. Now heli services have to be operated according to these rules.
On this basis, UCADA is currently preparing the tender documents. In this, there is a preparation to give priority to conditions like technical condition of helicopters, experience of pilots, emergency arrangements and preparedness to deal with weather.
Besides, emphasis can also be laid on making the number and timetable of flights more organized. A strong mechanism will also be created to monitor heli services. CEO UCADA Ashish Chauhan says that now that the agreements with the companies have ended, preparations are being made to invite fresh tenders for the operation of heli services next year.
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