SAROOR
JAMMU: As the arrangements for this year’s Shri Amarnath Yatra are in full swing with commencement date approaching closer, the wait to book online helicopter tickets for twin routes is over as the booking process will start from this week.
The 62-day Shri Amarnath Yatra is starting from July 1 and will conclude on August 31.
The administration however, this year has also planned ‘Jammu Darshan’ for the pilgrims reaching here from parts of the country taking the Tourism Department, J&K Road Transport Corporation and other agencies on board to make all the required arrangements.
“The online chopper ticket booking will start from this week for the yatries,” said an official.
He stated that booking for Baltal, Pahalgam and Srinagar routes will commence soon and more than four lakh pilgrims are expected this year during the yatra for which the administration is on toes to make it a success.
Moreover, he said that plans are also made to take the pilgrims visiting from all over the country to different tourist spots including Jammu city so that these destinations can be promoted through these visits across the country.
“The decision will not only promote tourism but also boost the local economy,” said an official.
He stated that the administration has fixed a target of two lakh pilgrims to be taken to different tourist spots for which, the Tourism Department along with Municipal Corporation, RTC buses are to be pressed in, adding, “the tourists will be boarded from the base camp and will be taken for a trip.”
The pilgrims this time will also be encouraged and made aware about cheap and comfortable accommodations, said an official adding that places like Bahu Fort, Gandola, Bagh-e-Bahu Garden, Bawe Wali Mata, Musical Fountain, Balidan Stambh, Mubarak Mandi, Jambu Zoo, Pirkho, Mahamaya Temple, Suchetgarh Border, Gharana Wetland, Jia Pota Ghat, Ambaran, Surinsar, Mansar, Purmandal are on cards to promote local tourism.
“Preparations to welcome the pilgrims are in full swing while instructions have been passed to complete all the arrangements by the respective districts from the gateway Lakhanpur to Kashmir between June 15 and 20,” said an administrative official.
He said that the helicopter service will provide relief to sick and elderly people.
Notably, about 2.5 lakh pilgrims have registered themselves online for the yatra.
Helicopter booking is done through affiliated agents and online from the official website of the Board.
Operator for Neelgrath-Panjtarni-Neelgrath route, Global Vectra Helicorp Limited for Baltal route, Heritage Aviation Private Limited from Pahalgam for Pahalgam-Panjtarni-Pahalgam route and Srinagar-Pahalgam-Srinagar for Srinagar route and Srinagar Nanilgrath-Srinagar route. Services of MS Pawan Hans Ltd. are the recognised service providers.
