The Hindu Business Line : Taj Wellington in Mumbai gets nod for rooftop helipad

Mr K. Gohain, Director-General, Civil Aviation, flanked by Mr R.K. Tyagi, Chairman and Managing Director, Pawan Hans Helicopter Ltd (left), and Mr Francisco Mena, Director Co-operation, Near and Middle East Asia, DGAC France, at an international seminar on Helicopter Operations in India in the Capital on Wednesday.

Our Bureau

New Delhi, July 18

The next time you stay at the Taj Wellington Mew Luxury Residence in Mumbai forget the limousine. Instead head for the waiting helicopter to take the ride straight to the hotel.

With the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) clearing a proposal to allow helicopters to land at the roof of the Taj Wellington, the helicopter ride would soon become a reality.

The practise of ferrying passengers from the airport to the city by helicopters is common abroad though it has not picked up here.

In the US, an American airline operating from India to New York is offering a helicopter ride from the airport to downtown New York.

Pawan Hans’ plans

Meanwhile, Pawan Hans Helicopters Ltd plans to establish a heliport in Delhi soon and has identified some sites for it, the Chairman and Managing Director, Mr R.K. Tyagi, said on Wednesday.

The state-owned helicopter company is examining a site near Apollo Hospital and another near the Akshardham temple, which is situated close to the Commonwealth Games village where the athletes are to stay, for setting up a heliport.

“A meeting is to be held shortly with the Vice-Chairman of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to decide on where the heliport can come up,” Mr Tyagi said.