With the start of helicopter services to Kedarnath by one more company on Sunday pilgrims who have been waiting to fly to this Himalayan shrine may find some relief. Thumby Aviation has also started to provide helicopter services from Phata to Kedarnath.
However, those who are planning to book tickets now will have to wait till June 13, as the online booking till then is full.
Chief Executive Officer of Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) Dilip Jawalkar said, “Thumby Aviation has started to provide helicopter services from Sunday afternoon. Indo-Copter will also be providing services from Monday afternoon.”
When asked about the bookings and tickets available he said, “All seven companies have full online booking till June 13. We are trying, that when the next session will start from September 1, booking for the tickets will be done through Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam and UCADA.”
It is pertinent to mention here that as of now six companies are providing helicopter services to Kedarnath including Thumby Aviation.
For the final two empty slots the authority has started re-tender procedure that will be opened on May 23. With the jam-packed booking of helicopter services pilgrims wanting to book chopper tickets to Kedarnath are facing difficulties.
