Helicopter companies operating during the Char Dham pilgrimage in Uttarakhand may face difficulties in continuing operations this season after failing to clear dues exceeding ₹3 crore owed to the Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC).
The temple committee has decided to issue notices to defaulting aviation service providers seeking repayment of pending amounts along with applicable interest, failing which legal action will be initiated.
According to BKTC officials, aviation companies operating both scheduled and chartered helicopter services for pilgrims travelling to the Badrinath Temple and Kedarnath Temple shrines owe more than ₹3 crore towards charges levied for facilitating special darshan of devotees arriving by helicopter.
Under existing norms, the committee provides priority darshan arrangements for such pilgrims against a fixed fee payable by helicopter operators.
Officials stated that while the temple committee fulfilled its obligations during the previous pilgrimage season, several heli-service companies failed to deposit the required charges, leading to the accumulation of outstanding dues.
Taking cognisance of the pending payments, BKTC Chairman Hemant Dwivedi has directed officials to issue legal notices to the defaulting companies within 15 days and initiate recovery proceedings. He instructed authorities to take necessary legal action if operators fail to respond within the stipulated deadline.
Dwivedi further emphasised that all outstanding dues must be recovered along with accrued interest as per prescribed norms.
He also directed the committee to prepare a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) governing darshan arrangements for devotees arriving by helicopter and defining operational responsibilities of the temple administration.
BKTC officials noted that some helicopter companies have already ceased operations in the Char Dham sector, complicating recovery efforts. Non-payment of dues has resulted in significant financial losses for the temple committee.
Meanwhile, officials indicated that the committee may seek assistance from the Uttarakhand government for recovery of dues and for initiating legal proceedings against defaulting helicopter operators in the Badrinath and Kedarnath shrine areas.