The Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has just taken a major step forward to promote drones in India. Just a year after India announced that they would allow experimental drone flights beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), two consortia, both led by ANRA technologies, have been granted exemptions to operate drones BVLOS. ANRA Technologies, the only company to receive approvals for both its consortia, will focus on delivery of medical supplies including blood and medicines – and in a partnership with Swiggy, one of India's largest food delivery platforms, contactless delivery of food.
The ANRA-led consortium includes Swiggy; renowned Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar; and BetterDrones, an Indian drone service provider providing a network of trained pilots.
These BVLOS operations are likely to begin the middle of July, subject to easing of COVID-19 restrictions. "India is looking at the operations as a way of fast tracking its policy and preparing the local industry for a major push into the drone services segment globally," says ANRA.