The Civil Aviation Minister also urged West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee to come forward and participate in the “huge” opportunities in the civil aviation sector in the country.
Emphasizing on the need for new airports in all metro cities, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday said that the government is looking for a location in Kolkata for a second airport in the West Bengal capital.
Addressing an industry body event in Mumbai on Wednesday, Mr Scindia also urged West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to come forward and participate in the “huge” opportunities in the civil aviation sector in the country.
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“Our metro airports are bursting at a very fast rate, and with about 7.5 crore passengers in Delhi, about five crore in Mumbai, four crore in Bengaluru and 2.5 crore in Hyderabad, I think, we need to have new airports in all of us. Metropolis needs to be seen,” Mr Scindia said at the annual session and AGM of the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Mumbai.
He said that the process of building new airports in Delhi and Mumbai is already underway, but it needs to be done in other cities including Kolkata. Mr Scindia further said, “I am trying to look at the issues with the Chief Minister of West Bengal as well which are related to West Bengal, which is a major element in terms of our strategic activity both in the North-East and . South-Eastern region of India.” Noting that there is a need to increase both the number of airports and air connectivity in West Bengal, the minister said, “I am also looking forward to a location for a second airport in Kolkata. I would therefore very much urge the Government of West Bengal to come forward and participate with us in this huge opportunity in India,” Mr Scindia said.
The minister also said that the civil aviation ministry is looking at increasing international flights to countries with which it has entered into an air bubble arrangement.
“I am looking at each country progressively and making sure that we increase the number of flights under the air bubble regime. Presently, I am contemplating to open several flights under air bubble arrangement, where the load factor in our current flights has exceeded 75-80%,” the minister said.
However, he said such a decision cannot be taken by his ministry alone and it should be a joint decision of the civil, home and health ministries.
“Because at the end of the day, God forbid, if something goes wrong with respect to the third wave, the ministries of home and health will also have to handle it and play their part,” he said.
Mr Scindia also said that the pandemic was not over and we all know what is happening in Europe, Russia and other parts which are experiencing fourth and fifth wave.
“So, the winds need not be a caution, we need to be alert, we need to be cautious, but at the same time, we need to understand the opportunities, and therefore, I am increasing flights under every air bubble regime.” I’m watching,” she said.
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