Parliament Question: Safety Measures for Char Dham Yatra

**Executive Summary** This document summarizes the safety measures implemented by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for helicopter operations during the Char Dham Yatra, 2025, specifically in the post-monsoon phase. It reports on the inspection of helipads and operators, the number of passengers transported, and the government's plan to replicate these safety measures in other regions. The original question was set to be answered on December 4th, 2025. **Key Points / Main Content** * **Safety Measures for Char Dham Yatra 2025 (Post-Monsoon):** * Additional familiarization flights are required for pilots new to the sector or resuming after a year's break. * Control Rooms at Sahastradhara Helipad (Dehradun) and Sitapur (Kedarnath) are operational with UCADA officers issuing go/no-go decisions based on real-time weather and traffic assessments. * Deployment of one ATC officer and one IMD officer at each Control Room to ensure effective radio communication and continuous dissemination of critical weather information. * Installation of additional weather cameras along the Char Dham and Kedarnath routes to improve weather monitoring and reporting. * **Inspection and Audits:** * Six helicopter operators using seven helipads were inspected/audited by DGCA before operations in Kedarnath. * Twelve operators and ten helipads inspected/audited for Char Dham operations before granting operational approval. * **Passenger Transport (Post-Monsoon):** * Kedarnath sector: 27,812 passengers up, 27,489 passengers down. * Char Dham sector: 3,675 passengers up, 3,614 passengers down. * Operations were conducted safely and in a well-planned manner. * **Replication of Safety Measures:** * DGCA intends to replicate these safety measures in all Yatra and remote area helicopter operations. * Operations Circular 02 of 2023 (Helicopter Pilgrimage Yatra Operations) has been amended to make these measures applicable for all Yatra operations. **Impact Analysis** **DGCA and Ministry of Civil Aviation** * **Impact:** Responsible for implementing and overseeing enhanced safety measures and inspections. * **Action Required:** Ensure adherence to new safety protocols, conduct inspections, amend and enforce Operations Circular 02 of 2023, and oversee the replication of these measures in other regions. **Helicopter Operators** * **Impact:** Must comply with new safety measures including additional familiarization flights and DGCA inspections/audits. * **Action Required:** Undergo inspections and audits, adhere to go/no-go decisions from Control Rooms, ensure pilots undertake required familiarization flights, and comply with Operations Circular 02 of 2023. **Pilots** * **Impact:** Must undertake additional familiarization flights if new to the sector or resuming after a year's break. * **Action Required:** Participate in familiarization flights. **Passengers** * **Impact:** Enhanced safety during helicopter transportation in the Char Dham Yatra and other Yatra operations. * **Action Required:** Be aware of and cooperate with safety procedures. **UCADA** * **Impact:** Required to man the Control Rooms. * **Action Required:** Officer-in-Charge needs to be present in control rooms to issue go/no-go decisions based on real-time weather and traffic conditions. **ATC and IMD Officers** * **Impact:** Additional deployment required. * **Action Required:** Deploy in control rooms and ensure effective radio communication and continuous dissemination of critical weather information.

Key Entities Referenced