Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Feb 9: A pilot air taxi corridor connecting Gurugram, Connaught Place and the upcoming Jewar International Airport in Noida could significantly reduce travel time and ease infrastructure bottlenecks, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has said in a report on Advanced Air Mobility.

The report stated that electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, popularly known as air taxis, could slash transit time from hours to minutes in congested urban regions. In the initial phases, such services could be deployed for medical logistics, including organ transportation and emergency missions.

According to the report, air taxis could operate from rooftops of hospitals, commercial buildings and business hubs, with strategic co-location near metro stations and healthcare facilities ensuring seamless integration with existing transport networks. Given the limitations of surface transport, the report said Advanced Air Mobility solutions are the next step for India’s urban mobility.

The report, released by Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu, described air taxis as a high-impact solution to urban congestion and outlined a phased plan for their safe integration into the country’s aviation ecosystem. DGCA chief Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Airports Authority of India Chairman Vipin Kumar and senior civil aviation industry leaders were present at the release.

Highlighting the concept of rooftop vertiports, the report said these would offer an efficient and cost-effective alternative to ground-based infrastructure, especially in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. With land acquisition proving expensive and time-consuming, rooftops of commercial complexes, hospitals, tech parks and residential towers were identified as viable options using under-utilised real estate.

However, the report noted that under current DGCA regulations, routine commercial vertical take-offs and landings from rooftops are not yet permitted and any future operations would depend on regulatory evolution and safety assessments. It proposed a sequenced rollout, beginning with drone deliveries, followed by medical logistics and organ transport, and eventually air ambulance services.

On funding, the CII report urged public financial institutions, including SIDBI, banks and government grant agencies, to create dedicated financing mechanisms for Advanced Air Mobility. These could include sector-specific infrastructure funds, venture leasing models and credit enhancement facilities to reduce investment risks and attract long-term capital.