What Key Initiatives Did Rammohan Naidu Discuss with VP Radhakrishnan?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Union Minister Rammohan Naidu briefs Vice President Radhakrishnan on aviation initiatives.
- Focus on affordable air travel and infrastructure development.
- UDAN scheme aims to improve connectivity in underserved areas.
- Government plans to expand airport numbers significantly by 2047.
- Emphasis on clean energy and sustainability in aviation.
New Delhi, Nov 25 (NationPress) The Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, on Tuesday, provided a comprehensive briefing to Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan regarding significant initiatives and measures introduced by the Ministry aimed at enhancing India’s civil aviation sector to meet modern demands and align with international standards.
During their meeting at Parliament House, the Vice President was informed about the Government’s dedication to affordable air travel and substantial infrastructure projects. These include the opening of new airports, boosting air connectivity, achieving record growth in passenger numbers, establishing greenfield airports, and promoting Atmanirbharta in civil aviation, as stated in an official release.
The discussion also covered the RCS-UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme, which seeks to improve air services on unserved and underserved routes, encouraging balanced regional development and making air travel accessible to the general populace.
Additionally, the briefing highlighted the Ministry's efforts to bolster the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) ecosystem and the transition to clean energy sources at airports to mitigate carbon emissions.
The Vice President was further updated on critical aspects of The Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024, a pivotal legislative reform aimed at modernizing India’s aviation industry by enhancing safety, fostering innovation, promoting growth, and ensuring compliance with global standards.
He emphasized the significance of initiatives like UDAN in empowering local communities and unlocking regional economic and tourism potential.
The Vice President commended the Ministry's endeavors to revive underutilized airstrips and stressed the necessity to augment the fleet of training aircraft to fulfill the increasing demand for pilots as the aviation sector continues to expand rapidly, according to the statement.
India’s civil aviation sector has emerged as one of the fastest-growing industries, establishing the country as the third-largest domestic aviation market globally. The number of airports has grown from 74 in 2014 to 163 by 2025.
As the nation approaches its centenary year of independence, the government is pursuing an ambitious growth trajectory for the aviation sector, aiming to expand the airport count from 163 in 2025 to over 350 by 2047, with passenger traffic projected to exceed one billion.