An Express Investigation: Balkrishna firm paid Rs 1 crore as fee to Uttarakhand for tourism project, its own turnover jumped 8-fold in a year

Four-hour parking for two-wheelers is Rs 100 and for four-wheelers is Rs 200 at a barrier erected outside the estate. For taking the vehicle up to the museum, it is Rs 1,000 for four hours and Rs 200 for every extra hour. Entry fee for children up to 12 years is Rs 100, and for adults it is Rs 200. Besides, the air safari cost is Rs 5,000 for a 5-7 minute ride in a helicopter, Rs 7,999 for 10 to 12 minutes, a Himalayan expedition for 50-60 minutes is for Rs 30,999, and Rs 1.84 lakh is charged for an hour in a chartered helicopter.

Rajas Aerosports pays the state’s tourism department an annual concession fee of Rs 1 crore (excluding GST), which is supposed to be enhanced by 3 per cent every year.

The George Everest Park project is just one of several such projects being promoted by Uttarakhand’s tourism department, which has, over the last five years, been trying to launch adventure tourism as an addition to religious tourism, which the state is known for. This, officials say, will help make Uttarakhand a year-round destination.

Apart from air safari for leisure, the state is also exploring projects to connect cities to remote areas such as Pithoragarh, Chamoli, and Uttarkashi. In recent years, helicopter operations and ropeway projects have gained prominence as the state frequently witnesses natural calamities that wash away its roads, impeding rescue operations.

The push is also being attributed to the fragility of the Himalayas, which impede the darshan of various holy peaks on foot. To this end, the tourism department has facilitated Heli Himalayan Darshans.

While the Ministry of External Affairs facilitates the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, the state had encountered a five-year hiatus after skirmishes with China. Then, the department came up with an alternative to provide devotees with darshan of the peak from Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh.

Documents show how Rajas has sought to gain from this push. In December, in a bid to expand their operations, Rajas wrote to the tourism department seeking approval for their plan to “transform” George Everest into a “world-renowned Himalayan destination, offering an unparalleled experience in luxury, adventure, and sustainability”.

The project was to have an investment exceeding Rs 500 crore and emulate Switzerland’s picturesque regions. In February, the department’s deputy director, Amit Lohani, wrote back, seeking a copy of the detailed master plan, including details on cost, expected footfall, and 3D plan, for further action.