The Indian civil aviation industry 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, Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati, Union Minister of Civil Aviation, said today at the inauguration of the two-day Aero Expo India-2016 organized by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry under the patronage of Ministry of Civil Aviation. Present on the occasion were Jayant Sinha, Minister of State, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Rajiv Nayan Choubey, Secretary, Civil Aviation along with other dignitaries from India and overseas.
Raju also stressed that though the domestic civil aviation industry has been growing at a rate of more than 20 per cent 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.
Speaking on the occasion, 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.
Choubey 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, 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, Mahesh Gupta who said that civil aviation sector would reach the intended heights with proactive government policies whereas its Senior Vice President, Gopal Jiwarajka praised the UDAAN initiative of the NDA government.
