CCTVs to be installed to monitor helicopter services
The state government has decided to closely monitor the helicopter services being operated for Kedarnath this season for which it has begun the exercise to install nine CCTV cameras around each helipad in Guptkashi to Kedarnath in Rudraprayag district, said officials.
The activities starting from the helipad to the passenger waiting room, ticket counter, and helicopter will be monitored once the cameras are installed, said district administration officials.
Yogendra Gangwar, deputy director of tourism, said, “Around nine CCTV cameras will be installed at helipads from Guptkashi to Kedarnath to closely monitor the activities so that pilgrims using the heli service do not have to face any inconvenience.”
The offices of heli companies or operators will also be connected with the CCTV cameras to be installed at helipads at Guptkashi, Badasu, Maikhanda, Phata, Shersi, Sonprayag, and Kedarnath for better operation of heli services, said tourism officials. The booking of helicopter service tickets for Kedarnath for a period from May 1 to 7 will start from April 18 this year. Indian Railways Tourism and Catering (IRTC) a subsidiary of Indian Railways that manages the ticket booking for railways has been assigned the task this yatra season thus ending any black marketing of the tickets.
The tourism department has also decided to add a clause for
ACTIVITIES FROM THE HELIPAD TO THE PASSENGER WAITING ROOM, TICKET COUNTER, AND HELICOPTER WILL BE MONITORED
amending the dates while registering online for Char Dham Yatra.
Gangwar said, “If a pilgrim fails to get the Yatra dates during online registration matching to his helicopter booking for Kedarnath he can amend the date accordingly which can also be done through a toll-free number.” The government is also planning to install the Doppler radar technique at Kedarnath so that the pilot operators providing
Heli service for Kedarnath shrine in Rudraprayag district can get correct information thus leading to mitigating accidents due to bad weather in Kedarnath.
Bikram Sigh, director Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Dehradun centre said, “The weather suddenly turns bad resulting in poor visibility and in such conditions, pilots are unable to get the correct information before flying Helicopters in the Kedarnath region for which state government is planning to install Doppler radar in the region, has asked us to provide technical expertise for which we have given our consent.” He said consultations are going on with Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority, and (IMD) for the installation of Doppler radar to prevent helicopter accidents.