New Delhi: India’s civil aviation industry moved from the persistence of the growth phase and growing “very fast” in the field of aircraft manufacturing, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia told the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
Replying to questions from members of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) Saugata Roy, Minister also said that there are plans to increase the number of airports from 138 to 220 in four to five years into the future for building infrastructure in the aviation sector is very important for the government.
“Civilian flights not only consist of the operating airline and airport operations, but also the entire ecosystem to develop.
In order for the ecosystem develops, the industry must shift from nascency of the growth phase, where we are going,” said Scindia During the question and answer hour.
India has advanced to the plane manufacturing, he said, adding that “we are progressing very fast in the field of aircraft manufacturing”.
In his question, TMC members have sought to know from the government if it had taken steps to improve aircraft manufacturing in India, noting that the country is still far behind in manufacturing passenger aircraft.
“We have Boeing and Tata in a joint venture called Tata Boeing Space Limited, which currently produces the Apache aircraft in India as it not only operates in India but also internationally.
They are being exported,” said the Minister.
While Airbus “tied” with Tata Advance system to replace the Indian Air Force Avro aircraft with Airbus C295, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (It) has taken a “very important step” in the field of aircraft manufacturing, which includes manufacturing Hindustan-228, the Indian version Dornier- 228, he said.
“Six civilian aircraft is under production with our own funding …
We also manufacture 19 light transport aircraft-seats in India with CSR to provide new impetus to regional transportation.
ALH-Dhruv (advanced light helicopter) is also produced by Hal,” Scindia added.
Replying to supplementary questions asked by members of TMC, the Minister said ‘Udaan’ has been “very successful” in terms of viability gap funding to connect the previously unconnected locations or less connected.
“Under this scheme, we not only provide connectivity between small towns and big metro but also build 63 airports, heliport and Joi water.
We nearly doubled the number of airports in the (past) seven years, growing from 74 airports, before 2014, up to 138 airports today, “he said.
“We plan to grow into 220 (airport) in four to five years into the future,” added Minister said that the development of infrastructure in the aviation sector is “imperative”.
“We will definitely fulfill it,” he added.