Praful Patel hopeful of India getting into the top 5 league in 7 years

New Delhi: India is likely to break into the global league of the top five aviation countries in terms of number of passengers carried and airports connected in the next five-to-seven years, the Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Praful Patel said on Tuesday.
“We are already at the number nine position globally. Going by the current projections, India should break into the league of the top five global aviation countries in the next five-to-seven years,” the Minister said at a conference on ‘Building infrastructure challenge and opportunities'.
The one-day conference had been organised by the Planning Commission.
Turning his attention to the creation of infrastructure, the Minister announced that the integrated domestic and international terminal at Delhi airport will be inaugurated on July 3 this year.
Mr Patel also said that the Government has given permission for the construction of 12 greenfield airports around the country.
A number of leading airport operators have invested or formed joint ventures with Indian companies for undertaking these airport projects.
Pointing out that land acquisition is an area of concern, Mr Patel said “we will have to closely work with the States because airports cannot be made 100-200 km away from the cities. They have to be in close proximity”.
Talking about the future of the domestic aviation industry, the Minister said that there was “cautious optimism” about the future of the industry in 2010. “There has been a pick up in the fortunes of the domestic industry since October 2009,” Mr Patel said.
24/03/10 Business Line

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Mar 2010