Srinagar: The government has started helicopter services to two districts in Kashmir where vast network of areas remain inaccessible during winters.
Kupwara and Bandipora are the two districts where helicopters will be ferrying people on a subsidised fare.
A large number of areas in these two districts remain closed for months together due to snowfall beginning December. They include Karnah, Tangdar, Keran, Machil, Kupwara, Bandipora and Gurez.
According to an official document, fare charges for an individual have been fixed at Rs 2,000 to 3,000 as per the route. For instance, the fare on Srinagar-Kupwara and Srinagar-Bandipora route has been fixed at Rs 2,000 per person. Similarly, Rs 2,000 will be charged per person from Kupwara to Karnah, Machil and Keran. However, fare charges for Srinagar-Gurez have been fixed at Rs 3,000.
The document, however, said that officials, VIPs and tourists would not be entitled to subsidised fares.
The helicopter services to Bandipora and Gurez from Srinagar will be available on three days in a week comprising Thursday, Friday and Sunday. For Kupwara district, helicopter service is available only on Tuesdays.
The chopper services can be booked on demand for any contingency and casualty evacuation during Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays, it said.
Deputy Director Tourism department Kashmir Amarjeet Singh told Kashmir Reader that the purpose behind starting the service is to allow access to those areas which remain cut off during winters.
According to him, the helicopters will be boarding passengers from Srinagar Airport and tickets will be available in concerned areas and tourism department.
However, no ticket has been booked so far, he added.

ARIF RASHID