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A city full of Ambanis? Leaders, experts want 'air taxis' for Bengaluru

  • The connectivity issue from Bengaluru city to Karnataka International Airport has even the political class worried
  • A committee comprising MPs from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have now suggested air taxis to escape the city’s traffic jams
  • The idea has got a thumbs up from people like Mohandas Pai and brand expert Harish Bijoor
Air taxis in Bengaluru to help curb traffic and also the accompanying traffic jokes

The connectivity issue from Bengaluru city to Karnataka International Airport has even the political class worried. After mooting ideas for a railway line, a metro and even an underground tunnel from the center of the city to the airport a committee comprising MPs from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have now suggested air taxis to escape the city’s traffic jams.

In the report on Demands for Grants (2017-2018) of the Ministry of Aviation, The Department-Related Parliamentary Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture pointed out that passengers face a lot of travel problems due to the location of the airport. 

It is this committee that has suggested air taxis for commuting from the city to the airport in places like Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

“Passengers are facing a lot of travel problems due to the location of the airport in faraway places in Bengaluru and Hyderabad. The Committee desires that the Government may explore the possibility of utilising the Pawan Hans helicopters to operate air taxis for providing last-mile connectivity from airports such as Bengaluru and Hyderabad to the city areas,” read the report.

Mohandas Pai, chairman, Manipal Global Education, told Bangalore Mirror, “It is a good idea to have air taxi services. Apart from these new initiatives, the HAL airport should also be reopened, especially for short-haul flights between Bengaluru, Hubbali, Belgavi and other cities.”

Bengaluru has the HAL and Jakkur airports other than KIA. There are 30 rooftop helipads in different high-rise buildings. However, most of them do not have operational clearance.

The committee has asked the government-owned Pawan Hans Ltd. to look into the helicopter services. 

Civic expert V Ravichander, however, recalled a similar effort in the past that was found to be unfeasible then. But traffic expert MN Sreehari has said that if 10-15 helicopters provide this service, it could be feasible.

And this might help in tackling another menace. The Bengaluru traffic jokes.
 

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