AJHLA hails SASB decision to slash helicopter fare

Jammu, April 05 (Scoop News) –    All Jammu Hotels and Lodges Association (AJHLA) has hailed the SASB decision to slash helicopter fare for Amarnath pilgrims, for this year. The CEO of the SASB has announced 40 per cent reduction in chopper fare from Baltal to Pantarrni and 35 per cent from Pahalgam to Pantarni for the pilgrims availing off the service for the yatra.

A meeting of the AJHLA, held here today under the chairmanship of Inderjeet Khajuria, president of the All Jammu Hotels and Lodges Association, said that this considerable reduction in the chopper fare from Rs 2425 to Rs 1445 per person from Baltal to Panjtarni and from Rs 3495 to Rs 2395 from Pahalgam to Panjtarni will encourage a very large number of pilgrims to avail off this facility, since the new fares are quite affordable to the middle class pilgrims. This will

provide further fillip to the yatra, since those short of time at their disposal can fast undertake the pilgrimage availing of this service. This will boost the economy of the state as well as promote the yatra further.

The Jammu hoteliers’ association, has however, demanded that seating arrangements at the helipads, both at Pahalgam and Baltal as well as Panjtarni should be improved for the passengers waiting to board the choppers.  The present arrangements are very poor, since the passengers have to wait in long queues remaining standing for long hours. No seating arrangements are provided for the waiting passengers, nor is there any provision for filtered drinking water as also no provision for snacks on payment at the helipads, which are required by the passengers during their prolonged wait.

AJHLA has also demanded prolonging of the yatra period this year for two months and from next year onward, further extension of the duration by adequately augmenting the infrastructure, including snow clearing at the earliest. Stressing that the natural formation of snow-lingam of Lord Shiva is the motivating force and inspiration for the pilgrims to come from far off places to pay obeisance, ALHLA has demanding scientific measure for ensuring that the lingam does not melt early and it sustaims for a longer period.

The others who attending the meeting included Ajay Gupta Sr. Vice President, B.S.Manhas Vice President, Pawan Gupta General Secretary, Baldev Treasurer, Sunil Suri and Vikramjeet Singh Secretaries.

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