Country’s first Integrated Heliport was inaugurated by Ministry of Civil Aviation in collaboration with Pawan Hans at Rohini Heliport, Delhi. Mr Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Minister for Civil Aviation said that the heliport was an excellent infrastructure but pointed out that helicopter services in India are still at a nascent stage. He added that the facility will keep the cost under control as MRO facility has been incorporated. This would also help in job creation. Speaking to media later, he said that joy rides have a future. He also expressed the hope that the pilot training centre would come up soon.
The Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Mr Jayant Sinha said that the Aviation sector is making history almost every day and that the heliport is one such event. He said that the facility will be useful in providing medical emergency, public safety and enhancing tourism. Shri Sinha also said that helicopter services could become economically viable if the prevailing 25 percent tax on ATF was reduced.
The secretary for Civil Aviation, Mr R.N. Choubey said that it is part of National Aviation Policy to have four heliports, one in each region and Rohini’s heliport is the first step. He also said that helicopter operations could be shifted from Indira Gandhi International Airport to Rohini.
The Rohini heliport will offer all helicopter operational services and will relieve the congestion at Indira Gandhi International Airport. Apart from this, it will also promote Regional Air connectivity through helicopters in the northern states for regular passenger services, heli services, landing & parking of helicopters, Helicopters Maintenance Services, disaster management, helicopter emergency medical services (HeMS), law & order surveillance. The Heliport consists of a terminal building having capacity of 150 passengers, 4 hangers with parking capacities for 16 helicopters and 9 parking bays.
A roadmap to link all the main destination from this Heliport such as Ex-Delhi to Shimla, Haridwar, Dehradun Mathura, Agra, Meerut and Industrial Hubs such as Manesar, Bahadurgarh etc has been prepared by Pawan Hans. They will provide air connectivity between Delhi and neighboring cities from Rohini Heliport.
Photo Caption: The Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati dedicating the First Integrated Heliport to the Nation, at Rohini Heliport, in Delhi
