SEVERAL STEPS TAKEN TO MAKE AVIATION
PASSENGER FRIENDLY : RAJIV PRATAP RUDY
PARLIAMENTARY
CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE OF CIVIL AVIAITON MINISTRY MEETS
MEMBERS
FAVOUR ALLIANCE AIR TO AUGMENT FLEET THROUGH LEASE
The Airports Authority
of India has launched a ‘National Airports Upkeep Initiative’
in 24 identified airports to improve passenger facilities and
ambience of airports at a cost of Rs.63 crore. This is part of
the new initiatives taken to make the aviation sector passenger
friendly. This was stated by the Minister for Civil Aviation Shri
Rajiv Pratap Rudy while addressing the Parliamentary Consultative
Committee attached to his Ministry here today. He said, as a part
of the strategy the secondary security check at ladder point has
been dispensed with at 15 airports. He said ladder point check
will be resorted to only as and when directed by the BCAS under
situations like high alert, operational requirements etc. The
Minister said touch free pre-embarkation security check system
has been initiated at all the airports in the country. He said,
restrictions on ground photography in the terminal building of
Civil Aerodromes have been removed and use of mobile telephones
inside the aircrafts has been permitted when the aircraft is on
ground with passenger door open except when certain activities
like aircraft fuelling are in progress.
Shri Rudy said, contingency
plans in respect of civil airports in the country are being revised.
The Government is actively processing new Civil Aviation Security
Act/Rules to strengthen aviation security in the country on ICAO
guidelines. Provision to handle cases like Purulia Arms dropping
and appropriate punitive measures against hoax callers have been
suggested in the proposed new legislation.
Shri Rudy said, Air
India and Indian Airlines are slowly recovering from the after
effects of Iraq War and SARS. During the first quarter of the
current year, Indian Airlines has reduced its losses by over 20
percent over the budget estimates i.e. from Rs.58.02 crore to
Rs.44.65 crore. This has been possible through an aggressive marketing
strategy coupled with a slew of promotion and marketing initiatives.
Air India has formed a subsidiary company named ‘Air India Air
Transport Services Limited’ for taking over the entire ground
handling activities of Air India. He said, the objective is to
offer competitive rates by improving the present level of revenues.
The Minister said
a working group constituted by the Ministry has finalized a draft
Concession Agreement for Bangalore International Airport which
is envisaged as a model for other greenfield airports in future.
He said that a formal shareholders agreement has also been entered
into for the Hyderabad International Airport at Shamshabad by
the Joint Venture partner, AAI and the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
Participating in
the discussion members made a strong plea for allowing Alliance
Air to go for leased aircraft. They said, the fleet of Alliance
Air is old and needs immediate strengthening. They said, while
Indian Airlines and Air India are going for leased route to augment
their fleet, the same benefit should be extended to the Alliance
Air. Members also demanded that Pilots should be kept out of the
Industrial Disputes Act 1949. They said while Pilots are heavily
paid, they continue to get the benefit of the Act. Members were
of the opinion that a survey should be conducted to find out the
potential for helicopter service in the country and Pawan Hans
Helicopters Ltd. should extend its service to holy and tourist
places having a potential for such service. Members also felt
that Pawan Hans has been in the use of Government and public sector
undertakings and it is time it should explore the market in the
private sector.
Members of Parliament
who attended today’s meeting are Shri Tarlochan Singh Tur, Shri
Tarit Beran Topdar, Shri Ratilal K. Verma, Shri Paban Singh Ghatowar,
Shri M.V.V.S Murthi, Dr. Madan Prasad Jaiswal and Smt. Jayaben
Thakkar from the Lok Sabha and Shri Santosh Bagrodia, Shri N.
Jothi, Shri Praful Patel and Shri Rajeev Shukla from the Rajya
Sabha.
