Parliament Question: Heliports in Uttar Pradesh

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 972 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 9th February 2026 HELIPORTS IN UTTAR PRADESH 972. SHRI RATANJIT PRATAP NARAIN SINGH Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:- (a) the status of the development of heliports in the key tourist destinations the State of Uttar Pradesh, including Kushinagar; (b) the details of the helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) proposed for Eastern Uttar Pradesh particularly Kushinagar district; (c) the measures taken to promote heli-tourism to connect the remote Buddhist sites; and (d) the status of the safety audits conducted for the helipads located in the district headquarters? ANSWER Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol) (a) to (d): Under the Regional Connectivity Scheme-Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN) launched in 2016 with the objective of enhancing regional air connectivity to remote and unserved areas, only such Helicopter operations are eligible wherein at least one origin or destination is a heliport, and at least one is in the Priority Areas, i.e., Himalayan & Island States/UTs and NER. As on 20.01.2026, 15 heliports have been operationalised under the RCS-UDAN scheme. Currently, no proposal for Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) for Eastern Uttar Pradesh is under consideration in the Ministry of Civil Aviation. DGCA has issued Minimum Safety Requirements for helicopter operations from temporary and regular helipads vide CAR Section 4 Series B Part II and CAR Section 4 Series B Part V respectively. Given the widespread and dynamic nature of helipad locations, the responsibility for adherence to these requirements and safe conduct of operations primarily lies with the helicopter operator. ******