Fist a journey through the air and then chug on, or vice-a-versa. In a move that can make life of both rail and air passengers a lot easier, the railway ministry is planning to provide connectivity to airports and is looking at the possibility of setting up terminals near them.

Alternatively, the railways may tie up with metro rail systems, which already have or are in the process of providing connectivity to and from airports. A case in point would be the planned metro terminals at

Delhi and Kolkata, with which the railways would look at a possible agreement.

?This is present in many airports internationally and would greatly increase passenger amenities,? a railway ministry official said.

The move would go well in step with the railway ministry?s plans to provide world-class passenger facilities.

The proposal is a part of the ministry?s plans for the 11th Plan. It is still looking into it and will come out with definite plans in some time, the official added.

One of the main steps would be to identify airports where the railways would provide such connectivity. The railways will also have to get clearances from the civil aviation ministry, the official pointed out.

The proposal, if finally implemented would greatly improve passenger amenities as well as provide a greater degree of connectivity to both air and railway passengers.

Airline travellers going to places that have no direct air connectivity would also find it easier to travel.

The railways have been increasingly focussing on improving passenger facilites.

On the anvil are the redevel-opment of major railway stations, providing facilities such as ATMs and Internet service on railway stations as well as permitting passengers to book cabs and hotels for their visits through railways.

Civil aviation ministry begins heliport work in Delhi, Mumbai

Shauvik Ghosh

New Delhi, Nov 21

In an attempt to improve the transportation infrastructure in Delhi and Mumbai during and after the Commonwealth Games in 2010, the civil aviation ministry has started the process of building heliports in the two cities. At present, all helicopters flying in and around the Capital use facilities at the Delhi airport. This requires the clearance of an already-swamped ATC at the airport.

?A helicopter lands vertically thereby not requiring a runway and other facilities, reducing time and enabling faster movement of traffic,? a ministry source said. ?A heliport just needs a plot of 25 acres,? he added.

?The ministry is in talks with the Delhi Development Authority to acquire the land at a subsidised rate, as the cost of the land is the main factor for building the heliport,? he added. The heliport is expected to be up and running before the Commonwealth Games in 2010.

The ministry expects to spend around Rs 50 crore for the project and had finalised land on the banks of Yamuna near the Akshardham temple so as to benefit the Games? infrastructure coming up there, but environmental concerns led to a the ministry looking for alternative land. ?The land at the Akshardham temple would have been ideal,? a senior ministry official said, adding, ?We are still trying to see if that land can be procured,? he added.

?The value of the land around the heliport will go up as soon as the heliport comes up,? the source said. ?We already have an operational heliport in Noida,? he added. In Mumbai, the heliport will come up on a floating jetty of the Nariman Point coast, the source said. The ministry is also looking at acquiring around 20 helicopters at around Rs 50 crore each for the improvement in helicopter facilities provided by public owned helicopter service, Pawan Hans.

It will also sign a memorandum of understanding with the Air force soon, apart from with the army and navy later for the provision of pilots for the helicopters. The forces will lend some of their pilots, who fit the Directorate General of Civil Aviation requirements, to Pawan Hans.