Mumbai: The proposed helipad at the temporary jetty at Worli along the Coastal Road will be the first government-promoted helipad in South Mumbai for public use.
“The helipad at Worli will be similar to one at Juhu, which can be used by private operators as well. It won’t be exclusively for VIPs, it can be used by the public as well,” said a senior official from the state government.
“This is a construction jetty built by Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) and it has temporary permission. The BMC desires to convert it into permanent to be used as helipad. We have appointed Pawan Hans as a consultant and structurally it is feasible,” said BMC Commissioner and administrator Bhushan Gagrani.
“We have sent a proposal to the Ministry of Environment & Forest, Government of India for clearance. The helipad facility can be made open immediately after obtaining clearance. It can be used by anyone,” Gagrani told the FPJ.
The jetty near Worli dairy was built temporarily by Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) during the construction of the Coastal Road. The jetty was supposed to be demolished, like the one near Tata Garden, after the completion of the Coastal Road Phase 1.
However, acting on the directive of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to explore the possibility of setting up a helipad on the construction jetty, the BMC started working on its feasibility and obtaining the required clearance.
The BMC-appointed consultant, Pawan Hans Ltd.—a Government of India enterprise —submitted a positive report last month stating that the jetty is structurally feasible for converting into a helipad. Following this, the proposal is now sent to the central government for clearance.
A helipad in Worli, along the Coastal Road, will prove very useful, considering there is no public helipad in South Mumbai. From hospital emergencies to VIPs travelling from helicopters to private operators, it can be used by anyone.
