Jammu, May 21:
In a major development destined to transform religious tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday officially inaugurated a state-of-the-art integrated aviation facility at Village Hutt, Katra.
The high-capacity heliport is specifically engineered to streamline flight operations, enhance passenger handling capabilities, and fundamentally upgrade the security, safety, and transit convenience for lakhs of pilgrims visiting the holy shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji.
Simultaneously, the LG also inaugurated a newly developed helipad and allied transit infrastructure at the nearby Shri Shiv Khori Shrine, establishing a high-efficiency dual-shrine connectivity network.
Safer Skies: Shifting Away From Katra Town
Developed under strict compliance with the rigorous operational benchmarks mandated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the newly minted Village Hutt heliport addresses a long-standing tactical objective: moving low-altitude helicopter traffic away from flying directly over the densely populated Katra town.
Eventually, all existing heli-operations currently running out of the legacy Serli Helipad will systematically shift to this centralized facility at Village Hutt under the professional management of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB).
World-Class Passenger Infrastructure
The integrated aviation terminal bypasses traditional temporary setups, delivering permanent, modern infrastructure designed for peak passenger numbers.
Beyond the tarmac, the facility is completely equipped with modern emergency response systems, integrated sanitation blocks, expansive parking facilities, and advanced queue management structures to prevent bottlenecks during peak festive seasons.
Connecting the Twin Shrines
By establishing a unified, collaborative institutional framework between the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and the Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board, the administration has successfully unlocked seamless, single-hub transit. Pilgrims can now touch down at Katra and directly link their itinerary to Shiv Khori via collaborative helicopter packages.
“This facility places a paramount emphasis on passenger safety, security, and a seamless travel experience, meeting the growing heli-services demand of the devotees. It will provide a significant boost to religious tourism, making travel remarkably convenient for pilgrims visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji who also wish to undertake the spiritual journey to Shri Shiv Khori.”
— LG Manoj Sinha
High-Profile Dignitaries Attend Ceremony
The inaugural rollout was marked by a high-level assembly of administrative and spiritual leaders. Prominent attendees included SMVDSB board members Mahamandleshwar Shri Swami Vishveshvaranand Giriji Maharaj, Dr. Ashok Bhan, Shri Suresh Kumar Sharma, Shri Lalit Bhasin, and Shri Kulbushan Ahuja.
Top bureaucratic and security leadership was also present on the ground, including Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari (Principal Secretary to the LG), Shri Ramesh Kumar (Divisional Commissioner Jammu), Shri Sachin Kumar Vaishya (CEO, SMVDSB), Shri Kumar Abhishek (Deputy Commissioner, Reasi), and Shri Alok Maurya (Additional CEO, SMVDSB), alongside senior officials from the District Administration, J&K Police, and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
