New Delhi, February 8 Air taxis, as well as using rooftops for take-offs and landings, can help ease the country's urban transport congestion by addressing infrastructure bottlenecks and reducing transit time, according to a report.
Electric Vertical Take Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, or air taxis, are in the early stages of the emerging Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) ecosystem, and they require vertiports for their take-offs and landings.
The report, titled 'Navigating the Future of Advanced Air Mobility in India', prepared by industry body CII, also suggests that financial institutions can explore dedicated financing instruments for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), such as venture leasing mechanisms and sector-specific infrastructure funds.
Rooftop vertiports offer an efficient, scalable, and cost-effective solution, particularly in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. Such vertiports can be located within commercial hubs, hospitals, tech parks, and residential towers, closer to where people live and work, the report said.
Currently, regulations do not permit routine commercial vertical take-offs and landings from rooftops.
Suggesting a phased approach for trials of AAM solutions, the report said that things can start with drone delivery, followed by medical logistics, organ transport missions, and eventually air ambulance services.
India, one of the world's fastest-growing civil aviation markets, is experiencing a rise in air traffic demand, and efforts are underway to improve last-mile connectivity for people through various modes amid urban congestion woes.
The report evaluated the feasibility of AAM in India by modeling a hypothetical 65–75 kilometer corridor connecting Gurugram, the central hub of Connaught Place, and the newly operational Jewar gateway. All these areas are located in the National Capital Region (NCR).
The Noida International Airport at Jewar in Uttar Pradesh is set to become operational soon.