Himachal
Government launches helicopter taxi service
There are people who love driving through the hills however many
feel the motion sickness and for them riding through bumpy and curvy roads to
hill stations can be an exhausting experience.
Shimla in Himachal Pradesh that features in everyone's
places-to-covered-in-life list is one such destination. The serpentine roads
and time constraints can, sometimes, pose obstacles for travellers.
But not anymore. The Himachal Pradesh government on Monday
launched a helicopter taxi service from Shimla to Chandigarh, a journey that
will take not more than just 20 minutes between the cities. The service is
expected to boost Heli Taxi tourism in the state, and in future could be
expanded to other tourist areas as well.
So why should one avail the heli taxi service? The 113-km
journey between the two cities usually takes over three hours by car, over four
hours by bus and over five hours by train. The heli taxi service, launched in
association with Pawan Hans Ltd, will be available on Mondays and Fridays for a
minimum price of Rs 2,999.
The service has been launched to specially cater to the people
of Himachal, Punjab and Haryana. The heli taxi service would also be useful for
people who want to go to the Queen of Hills but don't want to take bus or
train.
It will be a 20-minute morning flight between the two
destinations. The chopper will take off from Shimla at 8 am and reach
Chandigarh at 8.20 am. For passengers planning their journey from Chandigarh to
Shimla, the flight will take off at 9 am from Chandigarh airport and reach
Shimla at 9.20 am.
For convenience of the travelers, HPTDC Deluxe Bus will be
available at Jubberhatti Airport and at Lift, Shimla.
Initially, the services would be available every Monday and
Friday. The frequency would be increased depending on response to the services.
Points to remember for the Shimla-Chandigarh Heli Taxi Service
·
The travelling time for one side will be 20 minutes.
·
The service to be available on every Monday and Friday.
·
Departure from Jubberhatti, Shimla Airport, at 8 am and arrival
time at Chandigarh Airport at 8:20 am.
·
Departure time from Chandigarh Airport will be 9 am and arrival
time at Jubberhatti, Shimla Airport, at 9:20 am.
·
HPTDC Deluxe Bus will be available at Jubberhatti Airport and at
Lift Shimla.
·
Luggage allowed per passenger is 10 kg. Extra luggage is
chargeable.
How to Book the Heli Taxi Service?
·
For online booking, go to pawanhans.co.in or hptdc.in and click
on heli taxi service.
·
For information regarding the service contact HPTDC (Himachal
Pradesh Tourism Department Corporation) marketing office in Shimla (Contact: 0177-2658302,
2652561) or HPTDC marketing office in New Delhi (011-23325320, 23324764) or
HPTDC marketing office in Chandigarh (0172- 2707267.
Source – Business Today
