A new report by the Confederation of Indian Industry has offered the most detailed public look yet at the potential role of air taxis and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) in India, suggesting ways these futuristic transport systems could reduce congestion and reshape urban travel networks. The study envisions a pilot corridor in the National Capital Region (NCR) and recommends infrastructure, regulatory and financial changes required to bring electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft into regular use. The initiative could mark a major shift in how Indians navigate crowded cities if the necessary approvals and investments materialise.

The report, titled Navigating the Future of Advanced Air Mobility in India, was released in New Delhi by Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu and attended by aviation officials including the chief of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the chairman of the Airports Authority of India. It proposes a phased roadmap for integrating AAM into the country’s transport framework beginning with logistics and emergency services and progressing to wider passenger use.

Pilot Corridor Could Slash Travel Time In NCR

A centerpiece of the strategy is a pilot air taxi corridor linking Gurugram, Connaught Place and Jewar International Airport in Noida, designed to dramatically cut travel times that currently stretch into hours by road. Developers behind the plan suggest journeys that now take significant time could be reduced to minutes if electric air taxis operate on low-altitude routes above ground congestion. This corridor could serve as a blueprint for similar corridors in other megacities.

The report highlights how these aircraft, commonly known as eVTOLs (electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles), could operate from rooftop vertiports on commercial buildings, hospitals and residential towers. These elevated vertiports would make use of under-utilised real estate to create take-off and landing points that blend into existing urban environments. The idea supports fast integration with current transport infrastructure and reduces dependence on ground space, which is scarce in dense cities.

Infrastructure And Regulatory Hurdles

Despite the promise of air taxis, the report acknowledges significant regulatory and safety challenges before routine services can begin. Under current aviation laws, vertical take-offs and landings from rooftops for commercial services are not yet permitted, requiring regulatory changes and comprehensive safety frameworks overseen by the DGCA. The proposal recommends setting up a dedicated regulatory function within the aviation authority to manage these emerging technologies.

To ensure smooth integration, authorities would need to establish operational standards around airspace management, aircraft certification and urban planning. Safety evaluations, air traffic control coordination and public acceptance are identified as areas requiring careful planning and phased implementation.

Phased Rollout And Funding Needs

The report suggests a staged approach to rolling out air taxi services, starting with drone-based deliveries and medical logistics operations such as organ transport and emergency response. Later phases could expand into air ambulance services and, eventually, passenger transport as technologies and regulatory frameworks mature. This approach is intended to build public confidence and demonstrate safety and efficiency at each stage before wider adoption.

Funding is also seen as a crucial component of the transition to AAM. The CII recommends that public financial institutions, banks and government grant agencies establish specific financing tools such as infrastructure funds, leasing models and credit enhancement facilities to attract long-term investment into vertiports and air mobility ecosystems. These instruments could help reduce risks and enable the capital flows needed to support this ambitious vision.

A New Chapter In Urban Mobility

Advanced Air Mobility and air taxis have the potential to revolutionise urban transportation in India by offering efficient alternatives to congested roads, enhancing connectivity and supporting emergency services in time-sensitive scenarios. If regulatory frameworks evolve and infrastructure development keeps pace, cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru could embrace a new layer of mobility that complements existing transport systems and responds to the demands of rapidly growing urban populations.

The CII report provides a comprehensive early roadmap for policymakers, industry stakeholders and urban planners to consider as India explores the future of aerial urban mobility and seeks opportunities to integrate cutting-edge transport solutions into its cities.