Thursday, March 23 2006 12:41 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jammu: Come June and Amarnath pilgrims can avail of helicopter services and better telephone connectivity with the Jammu and Kashmir government having decided to operate choppers to the holy cave shrine besides installing BSNL towers in the vicinity.

The decision to operate choppers for Amarnath pilgrims when the yatra commences in June this year was taken at a high-level meeting under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary Vijay Bakaya here yesterday, an official spokesman said today(Mar 23,2006).

The Chief Secretary said efforts were also on to install towers of BSNL at Baltal to provide better telecommunication facilities to the pilgrims.

The state government along with the Baba Amarnath Shrine Board (BASB) have called for bids from private operators to provide cheap and better helicopter services to the Amarnath pilgrims.

Bakaya also directed the Jammu Kashmir Tourist Development Corporation to mobilise all their resources to provide quality services to the pilgrims.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Anil Goswami, Principal Secretary to Governor Arun Kumar, Director Civil Aviation S K Katoch, Additional Secretary to Chief Minister Zaffar Ahmed and Deputy General Manager of JKTDC Shameem Ahmed.