Jammu, May 14: Uncertainty prevailed over the helicopter service for Amarnath pilgrims this year after aviation regulator Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) suspended Non-Scheduled Operator Permit (NSOP) of Vectra Helicorp Limited – one of the key air service provider hired by Shri Amarnath Shrine Board in Jammu and Kashmir.
 Global Vectra is part of the Vectra Group, owned by Ravi Rishi, which is currently facing the heat over controversial Tatra truck deal to the Army.
 Pertinently, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had suspended the flying permit of Global Vectra, one of the air service providers for Amarnath pilgrims, after the Home Ministry withdrew its security clearance and recommended to the Civil Aviation Ministry to annul the non-scheduled operator permit (NSOP) of the company.
 According to sources, the advance helicopter booking for Amarnath Yatra for this year started on May 7 and the quota allotted to these helicopter service providers by Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB) was exhausted within few days of its opening.
 Despite the official announcement of the date for the pilgrimage, scheduled to begin from the June 25, SASB is still undecided to find other alternative to overcome this situation arisen by cancellation of license of Global Vectra, well informed sources told Greater Kashmir.
 SASB had given contract to Summit Aviation Pvt Ltd and Global Vectra Helicorp for providing helicopter service during Amarnath Yatra.
 When contacted Chief Executive Officer of the Board, Naveen Choudhary, said that attempt was being made to find some viable solution and fresh tenders will be invited from the helicopter operators to sort out the problem well before the start of the pilgrimage.
 But he showed uncertainty about the time limit for the completion of this whole process despite the announcement of official date for Yarta.
 Sources, however, said that it was uncertain as how the Board will be in a position to finalise the tenders for the new service provider in short span of time. “The entire process is time consuming and it will be too difficult to finalise it well before the time”, sources said.
 Pertinently, under the advanced booking system, each helicopter operator is liable to provide 50 percent of the seats per day per/ per trip which had already exhausted in its first few days of opening. 
 The tariff structure fixed by SASB this year is Rs. 1445 per passenger from Baltal route (Baltal-Panjtarni) while Rs. 2355 has been fixed from Pahalgam route (Pahalgam-Panjtarni).

Lastupdate on : Mon, 14 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 14 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 IST