Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced that air taxis will soon become a reality as the government prepares the country for advanced air mobility. The Prime Minister was addressing the Second Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation in the national capital, where he also suggested the idea of having an international Buddhist circuit.
The prime minister said the government is preparing the country for advanced air mobility and the day is not far when travel by air taxi will be a reality, amid rising travel demand, initiatives are also being taken to promote advanced air mobility.
Under the regional air connectivity scheme UDAN, which has made air travel more accessible for lower middle-class individuals, 14 million people have flown with many of them seeing the inside of an aircraft for the first time, he said.
The scheme has allowed the lower middle class to travel by air, he said and added that the aim is to make "air travel safe, affordable and accessible to all". Modi said efforts should be made to ensure that the skies remain open for all and that people's dream of flying is fulfilled.
Recently, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued the rules for establishing vertiports — from where these vertical take off & landing (VTOL) capable aircraft — will operate, paving the way for “advance air mobility” (AAM) in India. Private carrier IndiGo’s parent company InterGlobe Enterprises is planning to launch an all-electric air taxi service in India in 2026 through which passengers can zip between Connaught Place in Delhi to Gurugram in Haryana in as little as seven minutes for around Rs 2,000-3,000. The electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft can carry the pilot in addition to four passengers. They are similar to helicopters, however, less noisy and a safer alternative.
The prime minister also proclaimed the Delhi Declaration at the conclusion of the two-day conference. India is a strong pillar of the aviation ecosystem and one of the top civil aviation markets. India will become one of the countries with the most air connectivity, and efforts are also on to make it a global aviation hub, the prime minister said.
If the entire Asia is connected with the Buddhist circuit, it will be a win-win model for countries and people, Modi said and also suggested having a comprehensive approach with respect to air routes taken by professionals in the Asia Pacific region, which is also a business hub.
Apart from investments in infrastructure, he said there is a need for skilled manpower, and upgraded technology for the development of the aviation sector.
The sector creates highly skilled jobs, Modi said and stressed the women-led development of the aviation segment.
In India, 15 per cent of the pilots are women, while the global average is 5 per cent, he noted.
The two-day conference, which started on Wednesday, brings together transport and aviation ministers, regulatory bodies, and industry experts from across the Asia Pacific region. Around 300 representatives from 29 countries attended the conference. Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu also present.
