Shrine Board cuts chopper fare

The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, headed by J&K Governor NN Vohra, has offered some relief to the pilgrims by reducing the fare for the chopper services. The changes will be effective from April 1, 2017 for the helicopter services which run from Katra-Sanjichhat and return.

According to the handout of the Shrine Board, the helicopter fare shall be less than it was in the last three years. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the board, AK Sahu stated that after pursuing an entirely transparent bidding process the one-way passenger fare for heli-travel between Katra and Sanjichhat would be Rs 1077/- (inclusive of taxes) as against the existing fare of Rs 1170/- per passenger (inclusive of taxes).

The CEO informed that the contract has been awarded to the two successful bidders, ie M/s Global Vectra Helicorp Ltd and M/s  Himalayan Heli Services Pvt Ltd. These two operators have been providing heli-services to the pilgrims for the last three years, ie 2014-17. 

In September 2015, the Jammu and Kashmir government had imposed a 12.5 per cent service tax to pilgrims travelling to Vaishno Devi shrine by helicopter, reported Early Times.