HYDERABAD: Highlighting the rapid growth in civil aviation industry, President Pranab Mukherjee has said that there is a need to improve the aviation infrastructure in the country.
“It is estimated that by 2020, India would be the third largest civil aviation market.Indian airports handled 190 million passengers in 2015. Yet India is one of the least penetrated airmarkets in the world with 0.04 trips per capita per annum as compared to 0.3 of China and more than 2 in the USA,” he said while inaugurating ‘India Aviation 2016’, a mega civil aviation expo, at Begumpet airport.
India is one of the fastest growing economies of the world and is expected to be amongst the top three manufacturing destinations by 2020. The government is planning to invest over $120 billion in the development of airport infrastructure and Aviation Navigation Services over next decade, he said.
Pranab Mukherjee said the civil aviation market is poised for a faster and sustainable growth. He pointed out that Indian civil aviation market now ranks ninth in the world.
By 2020, the total passenger traffic in India is likely to touch 421 million and the country will need at least 800 aircraft to cater to the increase in air passenger and freight traffic, he added.
“Indian civil aviation sector is poised to make India a hub of world-class aerospace technology and services,” he said.
The President also said that the expo will provide a platform to showcase innovations in aerospace technology. “This show is a laudable initiative of the Government of India in collaboration with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries and other stakeholders,” he said.
Governor ESL Narasi-mhan, CM KCR, minister for Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju and secretary of Civil Aviation RN Choubey attended the function.
KCR said Hyderabad was the best venue for such mega events. The city has been rated the best place to live in, considering all the major parameters, he added.
“Hyderabad has always had good presence of defence units with DRDO, DRDL and many other establishments. There are already two aerospace parks in the city and one more is proposed to come up,” he informed.
Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapathi said the industry has seen both highs and lows but for the past one and half years, it has only growth. “The government is planning to bring manufacturing of aircrafts to India. We are targeting skill development,” he said.
Airbus India Head Meets CS
Hyderabad: Airbus group India president Pierre de Bausset called on state chief secretary Rajiv Sharma at the Secretariat here on Wednesday. The chief secretary explained to Bausset about the new industrial policy of Telangana, TS-iPASS, and the incentives being provided by the government for setting up industries in the state. TS was the most preferred destination for investments, he said and also briefed the Airbus official about the aerospace policy, the potential of the state in aviation sector and steps being taken by state government to make TS a global manufacturing hub in the aviation sector. Pierre de Bausset briefed the chief secretary about the Airbus group, its activities in the country and the likely action plan for coming years. He said India figured prominently in Airbus’ future expansion plans and appreciated the aerospace ecosystem in Telangana state. Additional principal secretary to chief minister Santhi Kumari, principal secretary (industries) Arvind Kumar, Airbus India vice-president Ashish Saraf were also present at the meeting.