The Centre of the opinion that the trials will also assist in assessing conditions such as population, degree of isolation, geography, etc. to identify regions that specifically require drone deliveries.
Telangana will be the first state in India to use drones to deliver Covid-19 vaccines in interior places where normal transportation facilities are not available. The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have granted conditional exemption for drone deployment to the government of Telangana.
The drone usage permission has been granted for conducting experimental delivery of Covid-19 vaccines within visual line of sight (VLOS) range using drones.
The permission is valid for a period of one year or until further orders. These exemptions will be valid only if all conditions and limitations as stated for the respective entities are strictly adhered to, the ministry said.
Trials will also assist in assessing conditions such as population, degree of isolation, geography, etc. to identify regions that specifically require drone deliveries.
The grant of these permissions is intended to achieve the dual objectives of faster vaccine delivery and improved healthcare access by ensuring primary healthcare delivery at the citizen’s doorstep; limiting human exposure to COVID congested or COVID prone areas through aerial delivery; ensuring access to healthcare to the last mile, especially in remote areas; possible integration into the middle mile of medical logistics for long range drones; improving medical supply chain, especially with a third vaccine expected to be commissioned and millions of doses to be transported across India, the ministry said.
Medicine from the sky project In fact, the Telangana government had earlier launched a project called medicine from the sky, which was aimed to deliver medicines through drones on emergency basis. The IT and industries departments had selected some private operators to execute the project last year. However, the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic had forced the government to put the project on hold and in the meantime, the Centre had restricted the use of drones. As per the regulations issued by the MoCA and DGCA last year, drones can be operated only by licensed operators and for the purposes specified.
Disclaimer: This news story has been edited by DNW staff as per DNW editorial guidelines and is published from a syndicated feed.
Image: the above image is an illustration and not an actual photograph.
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