Tamil Nadu has 79 helipads across the state, primarily meant for the travel of key dignitaries such as the President and the Prime Minister. Many of these facilities are not in regular use.
To cut travel time for tourists and pilgrims, the state government had announced a plan to start low-cost helicopter services to major temples and tourist destinations, including the Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram. The proposal also envisaged framing guidelines for helicopter operators through government departments.
However, the announcement—made during the Assembly discussion on the Industry Department’s demand for grants—has not moved into implementation. The report notes that several other industry-related announcements made over the past five years have similarly remained on paper.
Among the pending proposals listed are a mobile app to simplify single-window approvals for starting businesses, a mini TIDEL Park in Ooty, a state-level investment promotion and facilitation body for MSMEs, and the creation of an advanced manufacturing hub.
Other announcements include a framework for a Tamil Nadu air connectivity plan using helicopters for inter-city travel, an engineering wing to execute PSU projects within timelines, SIPCOT industrial parks through joint ventures with private firms, an M-sand unit at Alangulam Cement Plant at Rs 25 crore, and a Marine Food Processing Policy 2025 aimed at improving fishermen’s livelihoods.
