Narayanasamy bats for pvt sector in developing aviation

Air India needed to improve its performance and come on par with world airlines, says the Minister

Private sector should be involved in modernising aviation infrastructure as it was "very difficult" for the government to do it on its own, Union minister V Narayanasamy said today.

"I am a strong supporter of public sector. When the government gives you (public sector unit) funds, you should give results... It is very difficult for the government to do it alone. Private sector should be involved" in developing aviation infrastructure, he said at a conference organised by the Airports Authority of India's (AAI) Officers' Association.

An organisation which does not give results cannot exist in a competitive environment, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office said while delivering the valedictory speech at the conference -- 'DISHA-2013: Indigenisation of communications, navigation and surveillance (CNS)' to mark the first CNS Officer's Day.

Referring to the airline industry, Narayanasamy said private Indian companies were tying up with global carriers to bring in an atmosphere of competition, without referring to proposed ventures like Tata-Singapore Airlines or AirAsia India.

In this context, he also stressed that Air India needed to improve its performance and come on par with world airlines as passengers' expectations had gone up.

Narayanasamy said AAI had the capability to build world class airports as they have done in Chennai and Kolkata "but should adhere to the time-schedule and avoid cost overruns".

He also complimented AAI for introducing new technologies which had led to a decline in the accident rate in the past couple of years. "This is a great achievement."

India should also not lag behind in technological innovations and hence private sector should collaborate with the state-run industries to develop new technologies and "set benchmarks on par with international standards," he said.

The two-day conference, which was also addressed Union minister Praful Patel and top Civil Aviation Ministry officials, concluded today.