Chopper Services soon for Kashmir Tourist Destinations
Pawan Hans plans joy rides in Srinagar
Kashmir will soon get an added attraction for tourists as the government is introducing chopper services from Srinagar to other tourist destinations.
Commissioner/Secretary Tourism Shailendra Kumar said state government has applied for commercial license for state chopper and it is expected any day now.“After getting license for operation of state chopper for commercial use, we will start chopper services from Srinagar to Pahalgam, Srinagar to Gulmarg and Srinagar to Sonamarg,” he said.
The government is making efforts to attract high-end tourists to the Valley by developing high-end infrastructure and encouraging setting up of 5-star hotels.
Kumar said Chief Minister has desired that high-end tourists visit Kashmir for which state is starting chopper services.
“We are hopeful to introduce the chopper services in Kashmir soon. The government is very keen to attract high-end tourists to Kashmir,” he said.
Kumar said they will encourage helicopter companies to start their services in Kashmir.
Currently, the choppers are being used for Amarnath yatra at Neelgrath (Baltal)-Panjtarni-Neelgrath (Baltal) Sector and Pahalgam-Panjtarni-Pahalgam Sector.
Besides, the choppers are also used in Gulmarg during winters for heli-skiing, which is mostly availed by Europeans.
The government hopes to attract high-end tourists by making chopper service available round the year in the State.
Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited, one of India’s leading helicopter companies, said it is mulling to introduce their services in Kashmir.
“Kashmir is all about tourism and offering varied and new services will only attract more tourists to Kashmir. We want to operate helicopters in Srinagar and other parts in Kashmir so that tourists are taken to less visited places, which are not accessible easily,” said Vijay Pathiyan, General Manager Northern Region at Pawan Hans.
He said they will introduce joy rides in Srinagar wherein the tourists can have aerial view of the Dal Lake and can also visit mountain peaks.
Pathiyan said they will discuss the proposal of introducing helicopter services in Kashmir with J&K Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
“We are more than willing to introduce chopper services from Srinagar to Gulmarg if government facilities us,” he said.
Pathiyan said chopper services will give much needed boost to Kashmir’s tourism sector.
“Srinagar has everything to offer to tourists. High-end tourists will want to have helicopter joy rides in Srinagar and visit other destinations through helicopters. J&K should have such services. It will attract more tourists to the State,” he said.
One of the noted travel agents Nazir Bakshi said private helicopter companies can start with joy rides in Srinagar and other tourist destinations.
“Let alone high-end tourists, even locals will be interested to have joy rides in helicopter over Dal Lake and other places. Government should facilitate helicopter companies for such services in Kashmir,” he said.
