Airport Expansion, Enhanced Regional Air Connectivity & Expansion in Air Traffic is top Priority of Govt.: Ashok Gajapathi Raju

Minister of Civil Aviation, Mr. Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati, Minister of State, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Mr. Jayant Sinha and Secretary, Civil Aviation, Mr. Rajiv Nayan Choubey inaugurating the two-day Aero Expo India-2016 organized by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry under the patronage of Ministry of Civil Aviation here today, the Minister remarked that with new civil aviation policy in place and other associated reforms accompanying it, the civil aviation sector would emerge to serve the un-served at affordable pace.

Minister of Civil Aviation, Mr. Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati on Friday reassured the Indian civil aviation industry, emphasizing that the government of the day is exploring all possibilities for capacity expansion of leading airports in the country as well doing its best to make sure that the regional air connectivity is accomplished as per its UDAAN initiative.

The Minister also stressed that though the domestic civil aviation industry has been growing at a rate of more than 20% in the last few years, admitting that higher passenger growth in civil aviation sector is still a challenge for the government which could be won with addition of capacities in India’s leading airports.

Mr. Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati also emphasized that the cargo sector of Indian civil aviation though has developed but needed further expansion and development since the industry as such has been growing over 20% per annum and hoped that this growth rate would even exceed in times to come in view of India’s economic potential with its high appetite for higher growth.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Mr. Jayant Sinha asked civil aviation industry to grow in such a manner so that its passenger traffic, currently estimated at about 150 million for domestic and overseas sector multiplies manifold and catches on pace with the air traffic of China which presently is calculated at 500 million per annum.

In order to achieve this objective, the ministry has been adopting three pronged strategy under its UDAAN commitment which includes expansion of airports capacities, ensure regional connectivity and equip the air passenger with better level of satisfaction and experience under its Air Sewa initiative, emphasized the minister adding that the government would do all possible to transform the civil aviation sector.

Secretary, Civil Aviation, Mr. Rajiv Nayan Choubey who also was present on the occasion, reiterated the government commitment for higher growth of civil aviation sector with all possible government’s initiatives in partnership spirit, adding that by December 2016 dozen of schedule commercial operations could begin to connect small towns in the country under its regional connectivity drive.

Minister, Government of Ireland, Mr. Pat Breen who also spoke on the occasion emphasizing that India and Ireland should have stronger partnership to expand India’s civil aviation sector as his country is one of the global leaders in this sector, particularly on leasing out operations in which Ireland has already established its hegemony.

Among others who participated in the inaugural ceremony comprised, the President of the PHD Chamber, Dr. Mahesh Gupta who said that civil aviation sector would reach the intended heights with proactive government policies whereas its Senior Vice President, Mr. Gopal Jiwarajka praised the UDAAN initiative of the NDA government.

Mr. Jayant Sinha also chaired the session on CEO Chai Par Charcha and complimented PHD Chamber for providing meaningful platform.  Ambassadors, diplomats from US, Czech, Poland alongwith also attend the session.

Chairman Civil Aviation Committee, PHD Chamber, Mr. K Narayana Rao proposed to the government to bring in civil aviation sector under priority lending scheme of the government, especially for acquiring smaller air crafts for enhanced regional air connectivity.  Co-Chairman, Civil Aviation Committee, Mr. Bhupesh Joshi along with Secretary General and Director of the Chamber Mr. Saurabh Sanyal and Mr. Yogesh Srivastav were also present on the occasion in which a knowledge report by Auctus Advisors was released and an MoU was signed between FSTC and New ATR.