Maharashtra's Ambitious Helipad Policy Gathers Dust Eight Years After Announcement
In a significant administrative lapse, Maharashtra's 2018 policy to establish dedicated permanent helipads across every taluka remains largely unimplemented after eight years. The ambitious plan, which envisioned 358 standardized helipad facilities statewide, has stalled due to persistent space constraints and insufficient follow-through by district administrations.
Policy Origins and Implementation Challenges
The helipad policy emerged in 2018 following several near-miss helicopter incidents involving then-Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis during his first term. The state government resolution directed all district collectors to identify and plan suitable locations for permanent helipad sites, aiming to create safer, standardized, and better-regulated helicopter operations throughout Maharashtra.
"Dedicated land parcels were not earmarked, as mandated by the government resolution," revealed a senior government official. "The policy needs to be revisited and made more practical for effective implementation."
Administrative Hurdles and Ground Realities
Despite clear directives, district administrations have continued relying on existing open grounds for helicopter landings rather than developing new, dedicated sites. "No fresh sites were planned or formally reserved according to the policy requirements," confirmed officials familiar with the matter.
A senior Pune district administration official explained the fundamental challenge: "We were supposed to earmark government land for this purpose, but that did not happen. Where is the land with so much development already in place?"
Comprehensive Safety Requirements
The 2018 policy established rigorous safety standards for helipad sites:
- The helipad and surrounding 500-meter radius must remain free of electrical wires, communication cables, microwave towers, transformers, and other potential obstructions
- Sites should preferably be located away from densely populated areas
- Easy two-way vehicular access must be available for emergency services including ambulances and fire engines
- Crowds must be barricaded at least 300 meters from the landing site center
- Only authorized personnel are permitted within the helipad area during operations
Additionally, the policy mandated that identified sites be reserved in development plans as no-development zones to prevent construction of high-rise buildings or other structures that could obstruct helicopter operations.
Broader Implementation Concerns
A retired senior government official highlighted additional implementation challenges: "The policy also requires proper barricading, deployment of trained staff, and dedicated security arrangements. Implementing all this in every taluka is extremely challenging given current administrative capacities."
The official noted that other states like Haryana and West Bengal have successfully operationalized dedicated helipad policies to enable safer landings, suggesting Maharashtra could learn from their implementation models.
Ongoing Responsibilities and Requirements
Under the existing policy framework, district collectors bear multiple responsibilities:
- Ensuring no obstructive construction occurs around designated helipad sites
- Arranging ambulances, firefighting services, and security during VIP movements
- Facilitating mandatory pre-flight medical checks of aircrew by medical officers
- Coordinating with concerned departments and planning authorities for site reservations
The continued non-implementation of this comprehensive safety policy raises questions about administrative prioritization and follow-through mechanisms within Maharashtra's district governance structures.
