In a move to prepare the city for multi-modal transit, Mumbai will get four helipads over the next six years across the island city and western suburbs. Two of the helipads will be built by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) adjoining the northbound and southbound stretches of the Coastal Road Project, while two more will be developed at the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). The authorities expect the facilities primarily to support emergency services such as air ambulances and evacuations and to integrate with new high speed corridors.\n\nThe BMC has proposed a helipad at Charkop adjoining the northbound arm of the Coastal Road and had floated a tender last December for a Worli helipad on the southbound stretch. The tender for Worli has been awarded to the Raymond group and the site was described by officials as an erstwhile jetty. The civic agency has finalised two land parcels in Kandivali to serve the Charkop location and expects private contractors to undertake construction.\n\nThe MMRDA is constructing two helipads at BKC, with tenders issued in July last year and work reported as under way. MMRDA officials indicated that contractors will hand over the completed pads within five years following construction. The civic agencies intend the facilities to be developed and maintained by private partners under public-private arrangements, with revenues to be shared between the contractors and the authorities.\n\nThe Coastal Road is planned as a high speed 45 km connector linking Marine Drive with Bhayander and will be complemented by the Goregaon Mulund Link Road (GMLR). By 2030 the city is expected to have the four new helipads alongside these corridors. Urban planners have urged a single policy to govern helipad operations so that emergency access is prioritised and seaside locations are favoured to avoid constraints from high rises.
