New heli-taxi service between Shimla and Chandigarh launched; travel time cut short to just 20 minutes

The travel distance between the popular Himachal Pradesh hill station and Chandigarh was reduced to just 20 minutes with the launch of a heli-taxi service on Monday. The state government, in association with helicopter service operator Pawan Hans Ltd, launched a to-and-fro heli-taxi service on the Chandigarh-Shimla route, cutting down the previous four-hour travel time.

Heli services launched today from Shimla-Chandigarh-SHIMLA sector with 18 pax on board from Shimla. CMD, PawanHans honouring Hon'ble CM, Himachal and flag off the 1st ride. A new beginning . pic.twitter.com/X9KhyQ8LQ2

— Pawan Hans Ltd (@PawanHansLtd) June 4, 2018

Each sortie, with 19 passengers on board, will charge a minimum fare of Rs 2,999 per person. It will initially ply twice a week, Monday and Friday. [caption id=“attachment_4494547” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. Reuters[/caption] The helicopter will take off from Shimla’s airport at Jubbarhatti at 8 am, and reach the Chandigarh International Airport at 8.20 am. Similarly, from Chandigarh to Shimla the flight will take off at 9 am, and reach Shimla at 9.20 am, an official with Pawan Hans said. He said the frequency of the heli-taxi service would be increased depending on the response of the passengers. It takes a minimum of four hours to travel between Shimla and Chandigarh by road. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur flagged off the first service from Shimla. He said this would greatly help to boost the tourism industry in the state. “The government is also planning to start a heli-taxi service between Chandigarh and Manali, and a sortie service from Manali to the majestic Rohtang Pass,” an official said. Members of the tourism industry are elated as they are hopeful that high-end tourists, especially foreigners and business travellers, will prefer to visit the state capital and its nearby destinations by flights. “We are hopeful that the heli-taxi service will give boost to the tourism industry,” D.P. Bhatia, liaison officer with Shimla-based Oberoi Group of hotels, said. Also, Bengaluru’s most awaited heli taxi service arrived early morning on 5 March. It took its flight from Bengaluru International Airport to Electronic City which is the phase 1. Thumby Aviation operates this flight taxi service and has named it HeliTaxi. As per the report in Conde Nast Traveller, that Bell 407 helicopter had deployed to fly passengers. [caption id=“attachment_4901431” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] Representational image. Bellflight[/caption] The Helipad is said to be operating in two shifts with an average of three round-trips from 6:30 am to 9:45 am and the next one from 3:15pm to 6:00 pm. This chopper can be used to seat six people at once. The tickets for the heli taxi are priced at Rs 4,130 per seat and this also includes luggage upto 15 Kg. The Bengaluru heli taxi project is planning to venture out slowly in to the city space as well. With inputs from IANS.