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A proposed air taxi corridor for Delhi-NCR could significantly reduce travel time between Gurgaon, Central Delhi and Noida International Airport at Jewar, according to a recent study by the Confederation of Indian Industry. The plan uses electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft to cut road journeys of two to three hours to under 30 minutes. The report outlines phased implementation, regulatory oversight, rooftop vertiports, and initial use for emergency services before passenger operations, while addressing airspace, safety and environmental considerations.
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has outlined a plan to introduce air taxi services across the Delhi-NCR region, aimed at easing congestion and reducing long travel times between key urban and infrastructure hubs. The proposal focuses on connecting Gurgaon, Central Delhi's Connaught Place and Noida International Airport at Jewar using electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Advertisement
According to the study, the proposed air corridor would cover a distance of roughly 65-75 kilometres, depending on routing constraints. While road travel between these locations currently takes anywhere between two and three hours during peak traffic, the air taxi route could complete the same journey in less than 30 minutes. Travel time between Gurgaon and Central Delhi alone is estimated at under 12 minutes by air.
The report highlights that flight paths would need to be carefully designed to avoid restricted airspace around Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi Cantonment and the Lutyens Delhi zone. These constraints slightly increase the aerial distance but do not significantly affect overall travel time. Airspace coordination with existing commercial aviation traffic has been identified as a critical operational requirement.
CII has recommended a phased rollout for the project. In the initial stage, eVTOL operations would be limited to emergency and medical services, including organ transport and time-sensitive patient movement. These services would operate at low frequency from hospital rooftops and existing helipads upgraded to meet vertiport requirements. Passenger services would be introduced only after operational reliability and safety benchmarks are met.
The study also proposes the use of rooftop vertiports on hospitals, office buildings and high-rise structures instead of constructing large ground-level facilities. This approach is expected to reduce infrastructure costs by around 30-50 per cent and shorten deployment timelines. The report notes that eVTOL aircraft generate zero tailpipe emissions and lower noise levels compared to conventional helicopters, making them more suitable for dense urban environments.
On the regulatory side, the Ministry of Civil Aviation would be responsible for overall policy direction, while the Directorate General of Civil Aviation would handle certification, safety norms and operational approvals. The Airports Authority of India would support airspace integration and air traffic management. The proposal aligns with earlier guidelines issued for vertiports as India prepares for advanced air mobility operations around 2026.
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