Government to set up inter-ministerial panel on aviation hubs

The government Friday said the inter-ministerial group (IMG) on avitation will suggest various measures to overcome bottlenecks in the development of aviation hubs at various airports in the country.

According to civil aviation ministry, the new committee will be chaired by the secretary in the ministry. It will look at ways to remove bottlenecks for six metros airports including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata in becoming aviation hubs.

"Development of these airports as aviation hubs would boost the growth of airlines, airports and would increase the flow of tourists to India," the ministry said in a statement.

"After the IMG submits its recommendations, government expects to implement them within the shortest possible time, after seeking approval at an appropriate level," the statement said adding that in the last decade, the country had reported a 15-18 percent growth in passenger traffic.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) had Thursday approved the setting up of IMG.

The committee will suggest ways in removing bottlenecks like coordination and promotion of tourism sector, vis-a-vis issues like 'visa on arrival', currency exchange rules, immigration, and security check.

Other issues which the committee will tackle are jet fuel prices, reduction in service charge, reforms regarding trans-shipment cargo and encourage maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO).

A FICCI-KPMG report, "India: The Emerging Aviation Hub", has said 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.