The draft Civil Aviation policy recently released by the Ministry of Civil Aviation proposes to create an ecosystem conducive to making India the third largest aviation market by 2025. The aim, according to the government, is to reach 30 crore domestic ticketing by 2022 keeping in mind that passenger traffic in the country is steadily growing at 20 per cent per annum in the last five years.
While the initial response to the draft policy was mostly positive, there still exists several kinks which need to be ironed out. India lacks a definitive policy when it comes to civil aviation and while this is a promising first step, it lacks a proper direction as well as seriousness that one looks for in proper draft policy. While the ministries have tried covering several important clauses in the draft, the fact that the policy appears to be a glorified recommendation note is not lost to most.
The draft lacks strategic foresight into making the Indian aviation industry competitive in the coming few years. It tinkers with many things but stops short of making concrete proposals for taking things forward.
The biggest problem the sector faces today lies in its functioning body, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The DGCA controls almost all functions involving civil aviation and is responsible for all the decisions taken for the sector. Yet, the regulatory standards in the body are outdated along with a serous dearth of staff as well as funding and resources to manage the industry.
The bill, while talking about increasing the responsibility of the DGCA in regulatory checks does not address how the outdated body will be able to cope with the increasing load it is sure to face. The government has been in talks to digitise the DGCA’s operations in the coming year but unless serious steps are taken to increase functional strength, this solution is nothing but a band aid on a large wound. What the DGCA needs is a constant stream of funding along with well charted out procedures for streamlining its functioning.
10/11/15 Arushi Bedi/Outlook
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While the initial response to the draft policy was mostly positive, there still exists several kinks which need to be ironed out. India lacks a definitive policy when it comes to civil aviation and while this is a promising first step, it lacks a proper direction as well as seriousness that one looks for in proper draft policy. While the ministries have tried covering several important clauses in the draft, the fact that the policy appears to be a glorified recommendation note is not lost to most.
The draft lacks strategic foresight into making the Indian aviation industry competitive in the coming few years. It tinkers with many things but stops short of making concrete proposals for taking things forward.
The biggest problem the sector faces today lies in its functioning body, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The DGCA controls almost all functions involving civil aviation and is responsible for all the decisions taken for the sector. Yet, the regulatory standards in the body are outdated along with a serous dearth of staff as well as funding and resources to manage the industry.
The bill, while talking about increasing the responsibility of the DGCA in regulatory checks does not address how the outdated body will be able to cope with the increasing load it is sure to face. The government has been in talks to digitise the DGCA’s operations in the coming year but unless serious steps are taken to increase functional strength, this solution is nothing but a band aid on a large wound. What the DGCA needs is a constant stream of funding along with well charted out procedures for streamlining its functioning.
10/11/15 Arushi Bedi/Outlook
