In a major step towards enhancing the safety of heli services in Uttarakhand, Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan announced that Air Traffic Control (ATC) units will be established at Dehradun’s Sahastradhara and Sersi in Rudraprayag district by the first week of September. The decision was made during a high-level meeting held at the Secretariat to review safety protocols for helicopter services in the Kedarnath Valley.
To ensure smooth operations and timely shuttle services, the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) has been directed to appoint a trained in-charge at each helipad. These officials will be responsible for maintaining the schedule of helicopter services and ensuring strict implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
The Chief Secretary emphasized that all necessary requirements for establishing ATC facilities will be fulfilled by the state government. He also instructed that boarding passes must display flight numbers and departure timings for each helicopter, and held UCADA accountable for ensuring that private heli operators comply with all safety norms.
Further, a dedicated weather officer will be appointed to provide real-time meteorological forecasts, with related expenses to be covered by UCADA. Automated weather monitoring systems will also be set up at designated locations to enhance operational safety.
The meeting was attended by Secretaries Shailesh Bagauli and Sachin Kurve, along with other senior officials.
