Hyderabad in Need of More Helicopters, Helipads for Emergencies

Hyderabad: Aviation experts have said Hyderabad’s rapid vertical growth, marked by a surge in skyscrapers and hospitals, has created an urgent need for helicopters and helipads for firefighting, emergency medical services and rescue operations.With the city spread over about 2,053 sq km and marked by congested roads, experts stressed that aerial support systems are becoming essential for urban safety and emergency response.Speaking on the sidelines of Wings India 2026 here, aviation experts interacting with Deccan Chronicle said Telangana had emerged as one of the most aviation-friendly states in the country. They noted that helicopter component manufacturing units were operating at Adibatla, backed by state policies and infrastructure support.Experts observed that helicopters have traditionally been used for elections, pilgrimages and VIP movement, but their role is now expanding to disaster relief and rescue operations. They said aviation had long been neglected in India, but new policies are now boosting the sector. Hyderabad, they added, enjoys a strategic advantage due to its central location and the presence of a world-class airport at Shamshabad, positioning it as a potential cargo and e-commerce hub. They pointed out that India has expanded from about 75 operational airports earlier to nearly 160 today.G. Asok Kumar, former Union secretary who also served with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, said India would require at least 100 additional rotary-wing aircraft over the next five years due to rapid urban vertical growth. Kumar, speaking at a session on helicopters, said Telangana should have a helipad in every district and make it mandatory for skyscrapers to include helipads for firefighting, aerial spraying and rescue operations.He also underlined the growing need for air ambulances in Hyderabad, where traffic congestion often delays emergency response. Helicopters, he said, could play a crucial role during the “golden hour” in saving lives, and insurance companies should consider covering air ambulance services as part of health insurance policies.Experts noted that helicopters have long been treated as the “poor cousin” of aviation in India. They said civil helicopter numbers stood at 118 in 2000, rose to 294 by 2012, fell to 234 in 2016 and are now reviving at around 280. In comparison, the US operates about 9,500 helicopters. They attributed this gap to long-standing policy perceptions that aviation, especially helicopters, catered only to the wealthy, a mindset they said is now gradually changing.



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