Srinagar, Oct 27 : Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said that the ongoing helicopter services operating in remote parts of Jammu and Kashmir, including Gurez Valley, are intended solely for residents who remain isolated during the winter season and not for tourism purposes.
Responding to a question by MLA Nazir Ahmad Khan in the Legislative Assembly, Omar clarified that the existing aerial services were introduced to maintain essential connectivity for people in snowbound areas. “The helicopter services currently in operation are meant for local residents of Gurez as the region stays cut off in winters. The government has no proposal at present to start tourist flights to such far-flung regions,” he told the House as per KNS.
He further said that while the administration has no immediate plan to expand these services for tourists, it would welcome private initiatives that seek to enhance tourism-linked connectivity.
“If any private operator shows interest in launching helicopter services for tourists in Gurez or other remote destinations, the government will extend full cooperation rather than create obstacles,” Omar added.
Officials said that the existing helicopter network primarily supports emergency travel, medical needs, and essential mobility for residents in regions that remain inaccessible by road during winter months. —(KNS)
