In Jammu and Kashmir travel in choppers will be as cheap as on a road. For this, Jammu and Kashmir government has shot off a proposal to Union Home Ministry asking for bearing 75 per cent of the travel cost of the state choppers on the pattern of North Eastern states.

In the proposal, which the state government has submitted to the Union Home Ministry, it has asked for bearing the part of the cost of 100 hour travel in a month.

This measure follows as nearly 400 habitations in Jammu and Kashmir which have a population between 250-500 are without any roads. Government plans to run the chopper service to these areas where it has a proposal of keeping the rate between Rs 500-1000 for one side ride to these hilly areas. Also a provision is being kept to give free ride to those who can't afford the cost, but it will come after the family income was certified by a concerned Deputy Commissioner.

Chief Pilot and Director Civil Aviation, Jammu and Kashmir, S Katoch, said, “As of now the money for the choppers which we have hired on lease is being borne from the state plan. We have asked the Union Home Ministry to bear the 75 per cent cost as the demand for the chopper services is high. We will be hiring the choppers on lease from manufacturers. For running the chopper service, we don't have the problem of helipads. We have them at different district headquarters.''

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