Helicopter bookings for Amarnath Yatra to start from March 20

Advance online booking of helicopter tickets for this year's Amarnath Yatra will start from March 20, a senior official of the shrine board said here today.
"The advance online booking of helicopter tickers for this year's Amarnath Yatra would start from March 20; the Shrine Board has made arrangements with Pawan Hans Limited and Global Vectra Helicorps Limited for providing heli-services on the Neelgrath-Panjtarni-Neelgrath Sector and the Himalayan Heli Services Private Limited for heli-services on the Pahalgam- Panjtarni-Pahalgam Sector" P K Tripathi, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board said.
The 59-days yatra shall commence via twin route to cave shrine of Amarnath in South Kashmir Himalayas from July two and culminate with August 29 on the day of Raksha Bhandhan.

He said on-line helicopter ticket booking facility shall be available to intending Yatris from March 20 on the websites of the companies.
The Heli-operators shall also launch advance booking on March 20 through their appointed agents, he said, adding based on competitive bidding, the one way per passenger fare for Neelgrath-Panjtarni and Pahalgam-Panjtarni sectors have been fixed at Rs 1950 and Rs 4190 respectively.
"Yatris who wish to avail heli-service are not required to seek advance registration through the designated Bank Branches as their applications for purchasing helicopter tickets contain the required information and shall be treated as Yatra permits for undertaking the pilgrimage" he said.

He, however, all such Yatris shall not be allowed to board the heli-services unless they produce the required compulsory health certificate issued by authorised Doctor, Institutes which have been notified by the governments of the states in which they reside.