Tata rooftop helipad faces flak from Indian Navy
10 Aug 2007
The Indian Navy has said it wasn't consulted about the Tata Group's proposal to build a rooftop helipad for its private use at the Taj Wellington Mews Luxury Residences, Colaba. The move comes just days after the aviation ministry allowed the group to proceed.
The Navy says that its own air station is just a "stone's throw" from the hotel and that the ministry went ahead with the decision without referring it to the defence ministry.
The Taj Wellington Mews was the second building to be allowed a rooftop helipad after the Essar Building at Mahalakshmi, also in Mumbai. Just last month, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the Taj rooftop helipad.
The Navy is studying the Tata proposal for operating helicopter services from Wellington Mews, and will route its recommendations to the defence ministry, which will then send them to the civil aviation ministry.
The helipad was to be used for providing faster access to the Group's top executives to the airport, and also to fly to nearby towns with prior permission.