PM Heli service from Indore struggles with passengers:Passengers over 80 kg face extra charges; company temporarily closed online booking on its website

The newly launched PM Shri Heli tourism service in Madhya Pradesh has struggled to attract passengers, with all seats remaining empty just a day after its inauguration. The service, which began on Thursday covering the Ujjain–Omkareshwar route, showed 6 out of 6 seats available on all flights on Friday. Bookings for the next three days also remain nearly empty. Officials of the aviation company operating the service, when asked about passenger turnout, claimed that they received an adequate number of travelers. Meanwhile, the company has suspended online booking on its website, preventing passengers from reserving seats. Indore–Ujjain route booking suspended Sources indicate that the company halted bookings due to the lack of passengers. With only one or two individuals attempting to book tickets, the company now handles reservations for 5–6 passengers at a time through its ground staff. When questioned about the website booking suspension, company official Rohit Kumar Singh redirected inquiries to the IT team, who in turn said only the ground staff could provide updates. Ground staff confirmed they could manage booking information when contacted via messages. Passenger weight policy raises concerns The airfare and passenger weight policy has also raised questions. The aviation company announced that passengers weighing over 80 kg must pay ₹150 extra per kilogram, and travelers over 100 kg must pay for two seats. For instance: Every passenger will have their weight measured at the helipad before boarding. High fares compared to road and rail options Another reason for low passenger turnout is the high fare compared to cheaper road and rail alternatives. The Indore–Ujjain route charges Rs 5,000, and the Omkareshwar route Rs 6,500, whereas road and rail travel remains far more affordable. Travel experts had previously warned that launching an air service on this route might struggle due to the presence of low-cost alternatives. Last year, the same route operated by Air Taxi was shut down due to insufficient passengers. Officials cite early days and awareness issues Company officials argue that empty seats are common in the initial days of a new service. They believe passengers are still becoming aware of the service, and bookings are expected to increase over the coming weeks. The Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department is considering promotion and route expansion strategies to make the heli service more popular among tourists.