Heli shuttle services will commence with the opening of the gates of Kedarnath Dham on April 22nd

To ensure a safe, smooth, and unique journey for the upcoming Chartham Yatra, the Uttarakhand government is fully hi-teching the Kedarnath heli shuttle service.

Under the direction of the chief minister Pukar Singh Dhami, modern technologies have been incorporated into the helicopter services, ensuring a better, transparent, and safe travel experience for pilgrims. Heli shuttle services will commence with the opening of the gates of Kedarnath Dham on April 22nd.

Three Very High Frequency (T2) setups have been installed at the Shashtri helipad, while three additional VHF systems have been placed as backup areas.
To monitor the Kadarnath heli service, which will operate from eight helipads during the Yatra, 18 Panoramic-Zoom (HZ) cameras are being installed by UKADA. Of these, 12 cameras have been installed, while work on the remaining six is ​​ongoing. These cameras will provide real-time monitoring of flight activities, enabling prompt action in case of any emergency.
Additionally, live ranking devices have been made mandatory on all helicopters. This will allow the helicopter’s location to be tracked immediately in case of an accident or emergency, enabling rapid rescue operations. For accurate weather information, automatic weather oscillating systems and celometers are being installed at Sahaldhara, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Sitapur, Jhala, and Khursali. These will provide timely weather updates to pilots and crew, enabling safe flight operations.

During the Chardham Yatra, air traffic control centers will be operational at Kedarnath, Badrinath, Sahaldhara, and Sirsi. Currently, ATCs are active at Sahaldhara and Sirsi, while this facility will be operational at Kedarnath and Badrinath soon. Timely information regarding weather, flight timings, delays, or cancellations will be shared through ATC, providing advance notice to pilgrims.

UCADA CEO Dr. Ashish Chauhan stated that heli-service monitoring will be on high alert during the Chartham Yatra. The DGCA, India Meteorological Department, and the Airports Authority of India will maintain constant vigil. He added that work is underway to install PTZ cameras, VHF siren-cellometers, and automated beader systems at all helipads. This high-tech heli-shuttle service, being launched under the guidance of Muchmanji Pukar Singh Dhami, will not only enhance transparency but also strengthen crowd management and safety.