India’s civil aviation sector will be among the top five in the world in the next five years, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said here.
“In the last six years we have been successful in bringing a revolution in India’s civil aviation sector, I do not mind saying that,” Mr. Patel said after inaugurating the new domestic—cum—international terminal at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) Airport here, which is likely to become operational from August 15.
“In 2004—05, we were considering our civil aviation sector as big, but at world level it was not much recognised.
In just six years, India’s civil aviation sector is ranked ninth in the world.
“In the next five years, India’s civil aviation sector will be among the top five in the world,” Mr. Patel said.
Mr. Patel, who had laid the foundation of the building in 2007, said inauguration of the new terminal at the Ahmedabad airport was a rare occasion. “It is a rare occasion when a minister lay the foundation of a building and inaugurates it too.”
The Aviation Minister also expressed the need for more air services in Gujarat, looking at the development.
“There should be increase of air service in Gujarat be it Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, Vadodara, or Bhavnagar. Central Civil Aviation ministry would support all projects for Gujarat and we assure you there would be no discrimination,” he said.
When Mr. Patel requested the Gujarat government to consider the viability gap funding (VGF) model of the Centre, Chief Minister Narendra Modi said, “In the VGF model for north eastern states, it is the Central government which is funding the gap for airline connectivity. If this is given to Gujarat, I will adopt it right now.”
