Vaishnodevi air fare reduces 40 per cent

Jammu, Feb 7 (UNI) Making Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine trip in Jammu and Kashmir more affordable for pilgrims, the Private helicopter operators have slashed passenger fares by 40 per cent, sources said.

''Deccan Aviation started the chopper service between Katra and Sanjhi Chhat in October 2002 at Rs 2000 per pilgrim for one-way journey. Himalayan Heli Services introduced chopper service recently at Rs 1200 per passenger which forced the Deccan to also reduce rates,'' an official said.

The shrine board gets 10 per cent of the chopper fare from the operators. While Deccan Aviation carries five passengers, Himalayan Heli Services carries four in a trip.

It is a 13-km mountainous trek from Ban Ganga (Katra) and pilgrims usually go either by foot or take a pony or palanquin. Last year a record number of nearly seven million pilgrims, from various parts of the country and abroad, visited the shrine.

UNI