Now, Shimla is just 20 minutes away from Chandigarh
Shimla, June 4: The travel distance between this Himachal Pradesh tourist resort and Chandigarh was reduced to just 20 minutes with the launch of a heli-taxi service on Monday.
The state government in association with helicopter service operator Pawan Hans Ltd launched a to and fro heli-taxi service on the Chandigarh-Shimla route, cutting down the earlier four hours travel time.
Each sortie, with 19 passengers on board, will offer a minimum fare of Rs 2,999 per person. It will initially ply twice a week, Monday and Friday.
The helicopter will take off from Shimla's airport at Jubbarhatti at 8 a.m. and reach the Chandigarh International Airport at 8.20 a.m.
And from Chandigarh to Shimla, the flight will take off at 9 a.m. and reach Shimla at 9.20 a.m., an official with Pawan Hans told here.
He said the frequency of heli-taxi service would be increased depending on response of the passengers.
Otherwise, it takes minimum four hours to travel between Shimla and Chandigarh by road.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur flagged off the first service from Shimla. He said this would greatly help to boost the tourism industry in the state.
The government is also planning to start heli-taxi service between Chandigarh and Manali and sortie service from Manali to the majestic Rohtang Pass, an official said.
Members of the tourism industry are elated as they are hopeful that high-end tourists, especially foreigners and business travellers, will prefer to visit the state capital and its nearby destinations by flights.
"We are hopeful that the heli-taxi service will give boost to the tourism industry," D.P. Bhatia, liaison officer with Shimla-based Oberoi Group of hotels, told here.
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Rohit Sharma, Ritika Sajdeh welcome baby boy
Mumbai: India cricket captain Rohit Sharma and his wife Ritika Sajdeh have been blessed with a baby boy, according to sources. Social media reports from fans shared the news on Friday night, which has now been confirmed. The couple, already parents to five-year-old daughter Samaira, are yet to make an official announcement or disclose details about the birth.
Rohit had stayed back in India and did not travel to Perth with the Indian team for the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, set to begin on November 22. This sparked speculation about his availability for the initial matches.
During a pre-departure press conference, head coach Gautam Gambhir stated, “At the moment, there’s no confirmation. Hopefully, he will be available. We’ll let you know.” If Rohit misses the first match, vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah is expected to take over as captain.
Rohit’s absence also raises the question of who will open the batting, with Abhimanyu Easwaran and KL Rahul being potential candidates already in Australia.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy series opener is highly anticipated, with fans eager to see how the Indian team adjusts to these developments.
