By Rohit Vaid
New Delhi, Sep 6 (IANS) A mega heliport at Rohini in north Delhi and a helipad for the Commonwealth Games (CWG) being built by state-run Pawan Hans Helicopter Limited (PHHL) will be operational by mid-September. After the games, the heliport will be used for chopper travel within the region, promoting travel and tourism, and generating business.

“The CWG helipad at the Games village is almost complete and only a few finishing touches are being given to it, while the heliport at Rohini will be completed by mid-September,” PHHL Chairman and Managing Director R.K Tyagi told IANS.

In 2009, the Delhi government and the civil aviation ministry had decided on building the heliport and the helipad.

“Both the facilities will be ready by mid-September and will serve the mega event. Choppers will be parked at Rohini and then fly people in and out of the the CWG village to other places,” Tyagi said.

PHHL has paid Rs.19.5 crore to acquire the 25-acre plot in Rohini. It is spending Rs.45 crore for building the chopper facility.

According to the company, the Rohini heliport would cover helicopter operations, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and a training academy for pilots and technical staff.

“The Rohini heliport will be a state-of-the-art feeder hub centre. It will have helicopter maintenance facilities, parking facilities for other helicopter operators. A business centre will also come up,” Tyagi said about the added amenities at the port.

The helipad at the Games village would be exclusively used to transport athletes, VIPs and officials to 15 sporting venues, avoiding traffic jams in the city.

“The helipad would be used as a primary hub centre from where helicopters would operate during the day. In the evening, they would be back at the feeder hub centre at Rohini,” Tyagi added.

According to PHHL, the choppers would be using a separate flight corridor to ensure that the air traffic at the IGI airport is not disrupted.

Currently, the company plans to deploy two medium-size choppers with a capacity to carry 10 people each.

After the Games, PHHL expects the heliport to improve Delhi’s connectivity with the nearby cities and towns.

“The heliport will provide better connectivity, easy and convenience for chopper travel within this region. It will also promote travel and tourism and generate business opportunities,” Tyagi further added.

Heliports have become a part of many cities in the world, providing easy mobility. Currently, Safdarjung airport is being used by VVIPs for their chopper flights. But others such as corporate heads, who want to take a chopper flight, have had to wait for long at the IGI airport as priority is given to passenger aircraft.

(Rohit Vaid can be contacted at rohit.v@ians.in)