Helipads turn a must in B’lore realtors’ plans

Ground rule: Helipads turn a must in B’lore realtors’ plans
LANDING PADS HELP IN CUTTING SPECIAL VISITORS’ COMMUTE

The Economic Times

BRAND Bangalore may have gone global in more ways than one but city developers are continuously working on new initiatives to complete the city’s transformation into a mainstream metropolis. Helipads, for instance, are the flavour of the season having caught the fancy of leading developers. It only helps that the number of global CEOs and top brass of international companies visiting the city is on the rise. And that Air Deccan’s fleet of choppers is readily available.

“With the international airport coming up at Devanahalli, commuting to Electronics City will take more than an hour and half if the traffic retains its current levels. Visiting top brass of global companies and political VVIPs would certainly not like to waste time in traffic snarls. Therefore, the time is right to provide for helipads in upcoming buildings that are likely to host high-level delegations,” says M R Jaishankar, MD, Brigade Group. Brigade’s upcoming township — Brigade Gateway — will also house a helipad in its North Star building. So will Brigade Metropolis’ Summit building. “In fact, we had finalised plans to construct a helipad in the Brigade Software Park in Banashankari more than a decade back as per client requirements. However, the client later chose to forego the decision,” Mr Jaishankar adds.

Infy has helipad facility in Mysore


Infosys Technologies already has a helipad at its training facility in Mysore. “This is meant to ensure quick and hassle-free transportation for special visitors,” a company official said. The helipad came in handy when Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh came to inaugurate Infy’s Mysore facility.

“The increasing number of helipads coming up in Bangalore are not a sign of exhibiting opulence or mere sophistication but that of necessity,” says an official of Delhi-based Ahluwalia Contracts, which is involved in developing several such properties in the IT hub.

A helipad typically requires a clearing of 3,000 sq ft which includes landing space for the chopper and for passenger movement. The helipad bay area has a thickness ranging from 0.4 metres to 1.6 metres and comes at a fractional cost to the total construction cost — between Rs 1 crore and Rs 1.5 crore. The area uses high-grade concrete (m60 grade) which can be supplied by ready-mix concrete agencies.

Not surprisingly, the trend is catching on. Nitesh Estates too is currently studying the feasibility of developing a helipad for its upcoming township, says company MD Nitesh Shetty. “Clearly, it’s an idea whose time has arrived,” says J C Sharma, MD, Sobha Developers.