DGCA clears helicopter services for Chardham Yatra with enhanced safety norms

Aviation watchdog Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has cleared the resumption of helicopter services for the Chardham Yatra 2025 from this month, after the mandatory monsoon break, with a renewed focus on passenger safety and strict operational protocols.

The clearance comes after multiple rounds of review and inspections directed by Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu, who has set a “zero tolerance” mandate for safety lapses. Naidu, along with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, held coordination meetings in Dehradun and Delhi with officials of the DGCA, Airports Authority of India (AAI), Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) and the state government to streamline preparedness.