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Pvt companies to be allowed in aviation sub-sectors

Private sector participation would be allowed on all sub-sectors of aviation in India, according to Aviation Secretary Ravindra Gupta.

Gupta spoke at a meeting organised by the Punjab, Haryana and Delhi Chambers of Commerce and Industry in New Delhi on Thursday evening. He said the government was also contemplating to put in place an autonomous civil aviation authority that would subsume the present Directorate General of Civil Aviation and provide the necessary regulatory framework.

He said more international gateways were likely to be opened in the country, making it viable for a smaller aircraft to operate in the hinterland.

It is not commercially viable for larger jets to operate in shorter routes, Gupta said. Opening up of more international gateways was part of the policy to provide a fillip to the aviation sector in the country. The draft new policy was already available on the Internet, he said.

It has also been decided to allow tourist chartered flights to be brought to all customs and immigration airports. The limitations on aircraft size for charters moving out of India has also been substantially removed.

Gupta said that there was need for security laws that can address the issues of today. The existing laws do not cover security concerns. The government has already hosted the draft new legislation on the Internet, he added.

UNI

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