Patna: People in Patna will soon be able to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the city’s evolving skyline. Under the newly approved Mukhyamantri Bihar Heli-Tourism and Air Tourism Service Scheme 2026, the state govt is introducing weekend helicopter joy rides aimed at boosting urban tourism.Tourists will be able to view the city’s major landmarks and scenic stretches from the air at a subsidised fare of Rs2,100 per passenger. The service will be operated jointly by the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) and the state civil aviation department. The first phase of the project is scheduled to begin on July 15, officials said.According to an order issued by the tourism department, the joy rides will operate on Saturdays and Sundays. The first helicopter will take off at 3pm, with subsequent flights departing at 30-minute intervals.A total of four flights will be conducted on each operational day. Each joy ride will last 10 minutes, offering passengers an aerial view of the state capital.Tourism department spokesperson Ravishankar Upadhyay said, “The state govt has made this luxury experience accessible through a heavily subsidised and pocket-friendly fare of Rs2,100 per seat. To ensure safety, comfort and compliance with aviation norms, the helicopter will carry a maximum of five passengers on each flight.”BSTDC will manage bookings through a dedicated online ticketing portal. Passengers will be able to make cashless payments through UPI, net banking and debit or credit cards.“Passengers will receive a full refund if a flight is cancelled due to adverse weather conditions or technical issues. The first phase of the scheme will remain operational for six months, till Jan 15, 2027,” Upadhyay added.
