DGCA approval needed for construction of roof top helipads:Praful

New Delhi, Dec 4 (UNI) The approval of the Director General of Civil Aviation is necessary for construction of roof top helipads in the country, Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation Praful Patel told the Rajya Sabha today.

Replying to a question during Question Hour, the Minister said operational authorisation had been given to two companies, M/s Essar Group in Mumbai and M/S Taj Wellington Mews in Mumbai for helicopter operations from their roof top heliports.

He said ten proposals for construction of elevated roof top heliports in various parts of the country including New Delhi, Pune, Bangalore and Kerala were pending.

Replying to supplementaries, Mr Patel said while it was the endeavour of the Government to provide air services in all parts of the country, including the hilly areas in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand , it was not possible for Pawan Hans to reach and every nook and corner.

Hence, a number of private companies had been given licenses by the Government to operate air services in areas where they were currently not available.

On queries by members whether there was any system in place to monitor operation of the private companies running air services in various parts of the country, the Minister said the Government was working towards launching a satellite-based navigation system in the country.

''We are fast moving towards the launch of a satellite based navigation system, which will make India one of the few countries to do so,''the Minister said.

UNI