From 1 July, tourists planning to book heli-taxi ride to Shimla would have to sell Rs 500 more on account of change in landing site from Jubbarhatti to Annadale Ground in Shimla.
In addition, the travel time from Chandigarh to Shimla and vice-versa would be of 30 minutes, 10 minutes more than the earlier time of 20 minutes.
As per the listing on Pawan Hans Ltd which is a subsidiary of Union government, the price of one way ticket has been fixed at Rs 3,499, which is Rs 500 more than the previous charges of Rs 2,999.
The increase in time and ticket price is being touted to the change of landing site from Jubbarhatti, around 20 km from Shimla to Annadale ground which is just 3 km from Old Bus Stand in the tourist town.
Further, the Himachal Pradesh government has decided to operate heli-taxi service thrice in a week from 1 July on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Earlier the service used to operate twice in a week on Monday and Friday.
The ambitious heli-taxi service was started by the government on 4 June and it was flagged off by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur to encourage influx of high-end tourists to Shimla.
For the heli-taxi service, Thakur had lent his official chopper and it is being touted as the one of the first such initiative by any CM in the country.
“We want to increase the influx of tourist to the ‘Queen of Hills’,” Thakur said, adding the government is planning to start heli-taxi services to other tourists attractions as Manali-Rohtang, Rampur and Jhakri in Shimla district, Baddi in Solan district, Pandoh in Mandi district and Manali in Kullu district under Udaan-II scheme.