The proposed new civil aviation policy was under advanced stage of preparation and the draft would be placed in the public domain for eliciting opinions, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati said on Monday.
The ministry would place the draft on the internet and seek suggestions and opinions from the public. Thereafter, the policy would be finalised in 15-20 days, he told reporters at the airport here.
To a question about introducing more international flights, particularly to Coimbatore, Raju said several countries had signed bilateral agreements, but not operated any flights.
His ministry would try to negotiate and execute the agreements.
On the incidents of collapse of glass panes and false ceiling in Chennai and Goa airports, the minister said “it was due to shoddy construction.”
When asked whether the ministry would order a probe, he said: “Definitely it is shoddy construction. Why should I investigate. Can you prove that it is not shoddyIJ”
About the delay in expansion of Coimbatore Airport, he said land acquisition was a State subject and once it was over, the work would begin.
later talking to reporters in hill resort town of Udhagamandalam near here, he said a meeting scheduled in Delhi on Tuesday would discuss the issue of reducing air fare.
Stating that Air India was running in loss, so as some private airlines, like Kingfisher, he said the Government was monitoring the situation, but did not elaborate.
On introducing helicopter service to the tourist town, the minister said that if the state government sent a proposal in this regard, it would be considered.
Meanwhile, the local chapter of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, on Monday appealed to the Minister to include Coimbatore in the Bilateral Traffic Rights.
In a memorandum submitted to him, Chamber President D Nandakumar said a total of 18 cities, including Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu, have been added in the Bilateral Traffic Rights which allows airlines from Asian countries to operate flights to them.
Since Coimbatore was not included in the list, airlines like Air Asia, Tiger Airlines and Fly Dubai, who were ready to operate their flights to the city, could not do so, he said.
Currently, the city has direct flight connectivity to Sharjah and Singapore, weekly twice and thrice, but no direct flights to Malaysia and other UAE countries, he said.
In view of this, the Ministry should consider including Coimbatore in the Asian Air Transport Agreement for operation of flights by foreign airlines.
Besides, Air India should operate international flights directly or through other domestic cities, especially to Gulf countries as well as to New Delhi, he added.