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In the coming times, there may be a big change in the way people travel in Indian cities. Just as people currently travel by road in cabs or auto-rickshaws, in the future the option of air travel may also be available through electric air taxis. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has given an important information about air taxi. He said that air taxis will definitely operate in India and the country will not only use them but will also play an important role in their design and manufacturing.

**Social Media Post**

The Union Civil Aviation Minister has recently granted the country's third eVTOL Design Organization Approval (DOA) to Sarala Aviation. This approval is significant as it will accelerate the design and development of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in India. The Minister also experienced flying the eVTOL aircraft on the simulator.

In a social media post, the minister said that in the next two years, India will not only operate eVTOLs but also design and manufacture advanced air mobility solutions for the global market. This means that the government and companies are working towards launching air taxis around 2028. However, before it can be opened for common travelers, necessary conditions like safety protocols and certification will have to be met.

**What is eVTOL Air Taxi?**

eVTOL means electric vertical take-off and landing. In simple words, it can be understood as an electric flying vehicle that can take off vertically and land in the same manner without any conventional runway.

Its technology is similar to that of a helicopter, but it uses an electric powertrain and a different type of aircraft design. That is why eVTOL is being considered very promising for urban transportation. If the necessary infrastructure for these air taxis is ready, passengers will not have to depend on big airports for every journey. These can be operated from fixed locations such as dedicated vertiports or helipads. However, it would be wrong to think that ordinary people will be able to fly them directly from their rooftops or courtyards; Such operations would require specific operational and safety regulations.

Why is there a need for air taxi?
The problem of traffic jam is increasing in big cities of India. In cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru, traveling even a few kilometers by road often takes a lot of time. The main objective of air taxi is to overcome these problems to city traffic and time.

For example, if one has to travel from one part of the city to another amidst heavy traffic, in the future air taxis will be able to cover this distance by air in a very short time. This is expected to save time, especially for business travel, airport connectivity and essential travel.

In India, it is not just the government that is working on air taxis; Many Indian startups are also making their aircraft using this technology. 'Sarla Aviation' is a prominent name among these. The company's eVTOL project, 'Shunya', is being developed with urban air mobility in mind and aims to launch air taxi services around 2028.

What will the air taxi be used for?

In the future, the use of eVTOL technology will not be limited to just transporting passengers from one place to another. These vehicles can also be used for medical emergencies, cargo delivery, airport connectivity and other city transport functions.
Several companies are working on both passenger and cargo eVTOLs. This can be especially beneficial in areas where access by road is difficult or time-consuming. However, each type of use will require different safety and operating rules.
The most important aspect of this development is that India does not want to be limited to purchasing air taxi aircraft only from foreign companies. The Civil Aviation Minister has clearly said that India will design and manufacture the eVTOL. In other words, the government aims to develop the necessary technology and manufacturing capacity within the country so that India can emerge as a major hub in this sector in the future.