Overview
- Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Helipad at Village Hutt on Thursday, completing the new heliport developed by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi and Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Boards.
- The project, reported to have cost about Rs 27 crore, includes a 1.10 km approach road, an expanded passenger terminal with waiting and ticketing facilities, a modern hangar, parking and emergency-response systems.
- Officials said the facility was built to Directorate General of Civil Aviation safety and operational norms and is designed to reduce helicopter flights over populated parts of Katra by centralizing operations.
- Shrine Board officials indicated helicopter services between Katra and Shiv Khori are expected to begin soon but they have not published start dates, schedules, operator contracts or pricing.
- Katra already ran two helipads at Katra city and Sanjichat, and authorities expect the new centralized heliport to ease pilgrim movement, raise visitor numbers and require monitoring of how services, capacity and fares are rolled out.