Government sets up inter-ministerial panel on aviation hubs

The Union cabinet Thursday approved the setting up of an inter-ministerial group (IMG) for the development of aviation hubs in the country.

"The cabinet has approved setting up of an IMG to work out a policy to develop aviation hubs in the country," Infomation and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tiwari said Thursday after meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).

The civil aviation ministry has proposed to develop international as well as regional aviation hubs in the country which will not only cater to transit passengers but also take care of the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) needs of the airlines.

According to a report by FICCI-KPMG -- "India: The Emerging Aviation Hub", the country has a potential of becoming a global aviation hub and the third largest aviation market in the world by 2020 if conducive policies to the growth of the civil aviation sector and focus on quality, cost and passenger interest are pursued.

The paper which was released last year had called for ensuring close collaboration between the ministry of civil aviation and other ministries like finance, home, defence, external affairs, commerce and industry, tourism, environment, human resources and regulators, and the industry.

It suggested that India be promoted as an industrial and tourism hub in order to derive synergistic benefits for the aviation industry.