India Prepared to Handle Any Impact of West Asia Crisis, Says Civil Aviation Minister
Union minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu says the current situation is not alarming for India, but all sectors must stay prepared for possible fallout.
Ranchi: Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu on Wednesday said India must remain prepared to deal with any possible impact arising from the escalating crisis in West Asia, although the present situation does not pose any immediate concern for the country.
Speaking to reporters during his first official visit to Ranchi, Naidu said every sector, including civil aviation, should proactively assess the situation and develop plans to manage any future challenges.
He stated that while there is no major threat to India at present, authorities are closely monitoring developments and preparing short term, medium term and long term strategies to minimise any impact on people and the economy.
Responding to concerns over rising air travel costs amid global uncertainty, the minister said the Centre has already taken steps to reduce the burden on passengers. According to him, aviation turbine fuel prices, along with airport landing and parking charges, have been reduced to help stabilise airfares and support the aviation industry.
He also pointed out that the Delhi government recently cut value added tax on aviation turbine fuel from 25 percent to 7 percent.
Naidu said around five lakh passengers travel daily on domestic flights across India and assured that the government is continuously monitoring ticket prices. He added that if travel demand increases, additional flights and aircraft will be deployed to improve connectivity.
During the visit, the minister announced several new passenger focused initiatives at Ranchi airport. He said the modified UDAN 2 regional connectivity scheme would soon be launched with a proposed outlay of nearly Rs 29,000 crore.
Under the revised scheme, the government plans to develop 100 new airports and 200 helipads across the country over the next decade. He also announced that affordable food facilities under the Udan Yatri Cafe initiative would be introduced at airports nationwide.
Naidu reiterated the government’s commitment to making air travel more affordable and convenient for passengers.
Commenting on the investigation into last year’s Ahmedabad aircraft crash, the minister said the inquiry is in its final stages and is being conducted in a fair, transparent and accountable manner. He added that the final report would be released soon and would meet international standards, especially since passengers from several countries were involved in the incident.
The minister also announced plans to strengthen air connectivity in Jharkhand. Ranchi’s Birsa Munda Airport will receive priority for international flight connectivity, while domestic services will also be expanded.
He said annual passenger traffic at the airport has increased from 17 lakh to 27 lakh over the past five years. In addition, districts including Dumka, Hazaribag, Chaibasa and Daltonganj are expected to receive air connectivity in the near future.
Naidu received a warm welcome upon arriving in Ranchi and was seen riding pillion on a motorcycle with Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth from the airport.