In a week from now, beginning June 18, there will be a direct helicopter service available from Jammu to Sanji Chhat for Shri Mata Vaishno Devi cave shrine. This special service will include the costs of a battery car from the helipad to the shrine, priority darshan, Bhairon ji Ropeway, refreshments, and panchmeva prasad. The initial details regarding starting this service were shared by Anshul Garg, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) in a post on his X handle @hello_anshul.
The facilities provided will include Shradha Suman Vishesh Pooja (SSVP) and accommodation at Bhavan (near sanctum sanctorum) in what is referred to as Next Day Return (NDR) package. The NDR package for one pilgrim from Jammu airport to Sanji Chhat and back to Jammu airport after the darshan will cost Rs 50,000. Another package named the Same Day Return (SDR) will cost Rs 35,000 per pilgrim. All the details of the two types of helicopter services will be available on the official website of the shrine maavaishnodevi.org
Presently, the pilgrims who reach Jammu by different flights from all over India usually travel by taxi to Katra, from where they can take helicopter service for Sanji Chhat. Travelling from Jammu to Katra can take between 90 minutes to two hours due to traffic snarl-ups on the way and other factors. The toll plaza at Ban, 20 km from Jammu city, is one major factor for delays in travelling as it processes transport vehicles at very slow speed. On almost all seven days of the week, 24 hours of the day, there are traffic jams for 10 to 30 minutes at Ban toll plaza.
The start of the new helicopter services will mean the pilgrims will not have to undertake 43-km journey between Jammu and Katra. After getting down from an aircraft on reaching Jammu and collecting luggage in the arrival area, the pilgrims can go to the counter established by the Shrine Board. Presently, this counter offers pre-paid taxi, chunri, prasad and medallions to the pilgrims. However, no yatra parchi is issued here as new types of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) cards were introduced for undertaking the pilgrimage.
These RFID cards are mandatory for undertaking the pilgrimage and they are also likely to be organised on priority for those boarding helicopters from Jammu for Sanji Chhat. The helicopter service is presently available between Katra and Sanji Chhat at approximately Rs 2,000 per passenger. Some concession is offered for a two-way booking but most of the time, spot booking of helicopter service is not possible.
