Deccan may start chopper service for Gujarat pilgrims

Deccan Aviation plans to put pilgrim places in Gujarat on the flying map.

Although the carrier is still awaiting some clearance from the forest department, the government of Gujarat has proposed a piece of land for the helipad near the Ambaji temple, which is the first peak of Mount Girnar.

If the clearance comes through, the company hopes to start helicopter services for pilgrims from Junagadh to Mount Girnar from August 15. The pilgrims, who have to climb 5,500 steps of Mount Girnar to reach the Ambaji Temple and an additional 4,499 steps for the Gurudattatray temple,would now be able to chart the route in fifteen minutes by air.

With Deccan Aviation's foray, Gujarat would be the second state after Jammu and Kashmir to facilitate helicopter services for pilgrims. The chopper services would be in parity to the ones operated by the company at Jammu and Kashmir.

The flying charges, however, would be higher in Gujarat as the flying time from Junagadh to Mount Girnar is approximately twelve to fifteen minutes, which is double that of pilgrim places in Jammu and Kashmir, said P P Vyas, the helicopter operations head of Deccan Aviation.

The flying charges would be in the range of Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000, keeping in mind the distance and the recent hike in fuel prices, he said.

Deccan is also planning a special package for tourists flying to Saurashtra, enabling a tour across Saurashtra, which will be back in Mumbai by the end of the day. Plans are also afloat to start similar operations at Pavagadh and Palitana mountains, which would depend on the response of the services at Junagadh.

Tourists getting down at Rajkot would take a helicopter to Dwarka, Bet Dwarka, Porbandar, Somnath, Junagadh, Lion Sanctuary at Devaliya, Palitana and to Bhavnagar.

The NRI clientele would benefit the most, as they would board a flight to Mumbai from Bhavnagar, said Vyas.