DIAL ASKS TO PROVIDE SPACE IN DELHI AIRPORTS FOR HELI SERVICES IN BIGGER CITIES SUCH AS DELHI, GHAZIABAD, NOIDA & GURGAON, SAYS MR. CHOUBEY AT HELI EXPO INDIA-2017 UNDER PHD CHAMBER

Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Mr. Rajiv Nayan Choubey on Saturday asked Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) to explore possibilities for air travellers to avail of helicopter services to connect them nearer their homes in cities such as Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida and Ghaziabad and the like instead of taking to road travels by taxis since the government is gearing up to provide the air commuters with regional connectivity through helicopter and smaller aircrafts.

The suggestion was mooted at 1st Heli Expo India 2017 under aegis of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry here today by Mr. Choubey who was delivering his key note address on the occasion which was presided over by Minister of Tourism, Uttarakhand & Chairman, Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, Mr. Satpal Maharaj in which the CMD, Pawan Hans, Dr. B P Sharma and Vice President, PHD Chamber, Mr. D K Aggarwal were also present.

Mr. Choubey said, “I have asked DIAL to explore possibilities for providing space for helicopters at well within Delhi Airports so that heli services are launched for providing direct connectivity to air travelers so that these avail of such facilities and reach their respective destinations through air routes and within much shorter time instead taking to land routes that takes longer and is cumbersome also given the traffic congestion”.

Minister of Tourism, Uttarakhand & Chairman, Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, Mr. Satpal Maharaj in his remarks urged the Centre Government to encourage and optimize air travel through helicopter services in hilly states and northern eastern parts of the country as also provide subsidies for spare parts manufacturers of heliports enabling medical and disaster management functions efficiently and at cheaper cost in such difficult terrains as exist in hilly part of the country.

In his welcome remarks Vice President, PHD Chamber, Mr. D K Aggarwal said that there is a need for all stakeholders to engage and collaborate with policy makers to implement efficient and rational decisions that would boost India’s civil aviation industry. With the right policies and relentless focus on quality, cost and passenger interest, India would be well placed to achieve its vision of becoming the third-largest aviation market by 2026.

Chairman, Civil Aviation Committee, PHD Chamber, Mr. K. Narayana Rao in his address said that wider recognition of the benefits of enhancing air connectivity & of the aviation industry, while facilitating a stronger partnership between regulators and the aviation industry is the focus which can make India a vibrant and natural crossroads for global aviation.

Among others who were also present on the occasion comprised Prof Mehtab Alam, Dean, Faculty of Engineering & Technology, Jamia Millia Islamia University; Mr. Rahul Sharma, Secretary Tourism, Govt of Jharkhand; AVM  B S Krishna Kumar, Indian Force; Mr. J S Rawat, Joint DGCA, Directorate General of Civil Aviation; Co-Chairmen, Civil Aviation Committee, PHD Chamber, Mr. Bhupesh Joshi and Mr. Vipin Vohra including Secretary General, PHD Chamber, Mr. Saurabh Sanyal and its Principal Director, Mr. Yogesh Srivastav.