Jan 13, 2017: Addressing a day-long India Aviation Summit in Vijayawada, Civil Aviation Secretary R N Choubey said that $10 billion would be spent in the next five years on development of airport infrastructure. This will enable the country to become the world’s third largest aviation market in next seven years. As many as 400 unused airstrips across the country that had become cattle grazing grounds, would be brought back to life. The summit was organised by Civil Aviation Ministry in collaboration with Andhra Pradesh Government and FICCI, for the first time in Vijayawada, according to reports.
Choubey said the Civil Aviation Ministry was determined to maintain the “historic” 23 per cent growth rate achieved in the aviation sector in the country. “$10 billion would be spent in next five years to develop airport infrastructure. Our aim is to become the third largest aviation market in the next seven years. We are determined to stay ahead of the growth curve,” Choubey added. India’s nearest rival in terms of aviation growth was China with 14 per cent.
Progressive and proactive industry-friendly policies played a significant part in Indian aviation’s growth story and not just the fall in fuel prices, Choubey remarked. “Our ultimate objective is to take the flight to the masses and to this end we have come up with a progressive policy. We have also undertaken a very very bold experiment called Regional Air Connectivity Scheme at the national level,” he added.