Srinagar, May 21: The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has decided to increase the allocation of helicopter seats during the ensuing Amarnath Yatra for promotion of tourism.    
Decision to this effect was taken at a meeting held by the Governor,   N. N. Vohra, who is the Chairman of SASB, with the representatives of travel and tour operators, at Raj Bhavan, here today.           
An official statement here said that it was announced in the meeting that the SASB would earmark a daily quota of 140 helicopter seats for being released to four recognized Travel and Tour Operators, two each from the Kashmir and Jammu Divisions.
Thus, 35 seats shall be allocated to each of the two Travel and Tour Operators from Kashmir and 35 to each of the two Travel and Tour Operators from Jammu Division.
Of the daily quota of 140 helicopter seats, 120 would be for the Baltal-Panchtarni route and 20 for the Pahalgam-Panchtarni sector.
Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said that every stakeholder must work in the best interest of the state and make all possible efforts to make every visitor to the state feel welcome and comfortable. This will result in both the pilgrims and the leisure tourists carry back happy memories of their visits to the State.
The representatives of the Travel and Tour Operators who participated in the meeting, thanked the Chairman of the Shrine Board for enhancing the quota of helicopter bookings which would help promote tourism activities in J&K.
They said that the Travel and Tour Operators are working in tandem with the Shrine Board for facilitating Shri Amarnathji Yatris.
The representatives of the Travel and Tour Operators who participated in the meeting included Managing Partner, Shiraz Travels,   Nazir A. Bakshi, President, Travel Agents Association of Kashmir,   Rauf Tramboo, President, Association of Jammu Travel Agents,   Rajesh Gupta and Director, Prince Tours,   G. R. Siah.
The Principal Secretary to the Governor and Chief Executive Officer of the Shrine Board,   Raj Kumar Goyal and the Additional Chief Executive Officer,   Saugat Biswas were present in the meeting.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 21 May 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 21 May 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 22 May 2010 00:00:00 IST