The recent diktat of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) not to allow private helipads on rooftops and in the city would prove detrimental for the Indian helicopter industry, which depends on private sorties for 60 per cent of its revenues. It would also hit the over 20 helipads that were being planned by corporate houses, hotels and individuals.
Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh had said no new private helipads would be given clearance by his ministry, as they violated permissible noise levels. Only government helipads would get approval, as long as the government uses these for medical emergency or security-related needs.
“People prefer helicopters because these have the ease of landing and taking off from any point. If helipads are not allowed in the city and on rooftops and if a person has to go to a point to board a helicopter, he would just drive off,” said Jayanth Poovaiah, chief executive officer, Deccan Charters Ltd, India’s third-largest helicopter operator.
“Around 60 per cent of the industry’s revenue comes from private sorties and a major chunk of this comes from taking people out of the city, which will get affected,” Poovaiah added.
“Such a move will be detrimental for the industry, when it is still evolving. Also, by not allowing operations in cities, the utilisation of the helicopter is limited,” said a senior Pawan Hans Helicopters executive, who did not want to be identified.
The industry, with 268 registered civil helicopters and 62 commercial ones, earned revenue of Rs 557 crore in 2009-10.
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At present, India has only two rooftop helipads and 18 surface helipads. The cost of building a helipad on a rooftop is between Rs 3 crore and Rs 3.5 crore. A heliport is also being built in New Delhi at the cost of Rs 64 crore and there are plans to build heliports in Mumbai and Pune, too.
“One cannot think of a coastal city without a rooftop heliport. Sao Paulo in Brazil has around 300 heliports and 400 helicopters,” added the executive at Pawan Hans, India’s largest helicopter service provider.
This diktat is also set to hit the plans of various big business houses and almost all hotels that were planning to build helipads on their rooftops. Helipads could save a lot of time, as one could skip heavy city traffic by flying in helicopters.
Essar Group's Essar House and Tatas' property at Willington Mews in South Mumbai have helipads on their rooftops.