India’s first HeliTaxi service launched in Bengaluru

India’s first helicopter shuttle service (HeliTaxi) was launched in IT capital Bengaluru, Karnataka n a bid to provide last-mile connectivity. The maiden trip of helitaxi was between Electronic City and Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. It was provided by Thumby Aviation.

Need

Bengaluru has poor road density (measure of road length per square km area of land) as compared to other Indian cities. So such service was needed much more than other cities to ferry air passengers to and from the city. The decision to launch HeliTaxi was announced in August 2017 by Union Minister of State (MoS) for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha.

Key Facts

HeliTaxi provides connectivity between Airport and Electronic City (located in south about 70 km from airport in the city centre), home to hundreds of technology firms including, Infosys and other multinationals. It has reduced travelling time between airport and Electronic City from two hours (by road) to 15 minutes.
The fare is fixed at Rs. 4,130 per seat, including GST. It includes pick up from airport terminal to helipad and allows carrying 15 kg luggage. People can book their seat through a mobile app named ‘Heli Taxii’. Currently, the chopper service provider has employed only one helicopter to ferry air passengers and will increase number depending on demand.

Month: Current Affairs - March, 2018