Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that the country’s civil aviation sector is expected to draw investments worth about Rs 95,000 crore from the government and the private sector in the next four years.
These investments will be on development of greenfield as well as brownfield airports, the minister said at the Conference of the Ministers of Civil Aviation in New Delhi.
Speaking on the current scenario, he said the civil aviation sector has passed through difficult times and it is now ready for take-off to its true potential. Calling India a towering phoenix, the minister said that India today is one of the few countries operating seamlessly in a high demand-led environment.
Scindia said that the major growth for aviation has been in the tier II and III cities, compared to larger cities, which shows that the civil aviation is reaching the common masses. The government, he said, is making consistent efforts to strengthen air infrastructure in small cities and has provided connectivity through RCS–UDAN Scheme to unserved and under-served places.
„In last six years, 70 new airports have been brought under UDAN. About 2.1 lakh flights took off under the scheme and approximately 1.1 crore passengers have benefitted from UDAN,“ the minister said.
The Airports Authority of India is working on expansion of about 40 airports and setting up of 3-4 new greenfield airports, he said. „Similarly, private sector is also working on 60 brownfield and 3 greenfield airports. In last 8 years, the number of airports has gone up from 74 to 141 (including helipads and waterdromes) and the number is likely to cross 200 in next 4-5 years.“
The minister emphasised on the importance of helipads in providing last-mile connectivity. He said the government recently abolished TNFC/RNFC charges in 21 states to encourage helicopter operations. Scindia urged the states to set up helipads in every district.
