Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu presides over dialogue on Civil Aviation
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 4 Jul: A high-level dialogue session titled “Opportunities for States in the Civil Aviation Sector” was convened today at a private hotel on Mussoorie Road, here, as part of the Northern Region Minister’s Conference on Civil Aviation. Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu presided over the event, at which a range of experts outlined new and emerging prospects in the aviation landscape and called upon states to proactively engage with policy and infrastructure development.
Joint Secretary, Union Civil Aviation Ministry, Asangba Chuba, spoke at length about the UDAN scheme. He observed that it has considerably improved air connectivity across various states. He informed the gathering that 625 routes under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) have been operationalised, benefitting over 1.53 crore passengers nationwide. He further announced that a modified version of the scheme would soon be launched with the objective of facilitating air services for nearly 4 crore passengers over the next decade and connecting 120 destinations.
Madhu Sudan Shankar, also a Joint Secretary in the Civil Aviation Ministry, stressed upon the necessity of building a robust human resource pool to support growing air connectivity needs. From pilots and technicians to the ground crew and air traffic controllers, he said, trained professionals will be required at every level. He added that states must take the initiative to establish training institutions tailored to the sector’s demands. Citing projections by IATA, he said India is poised to become the third-largest aviation market globally by 2030. The current number of airports, which stands at 162, is expected to expand to between 350 and 400 by 2047. Referring to Airbus estimates, he highlighted that India would require approximately 45,000 aviation maintenance technicians by 2040, further underscoring the urgency of establishing state-run training centres.
Smit Shah, President of the Drone Federation of India, urged states to invest in infrastructure specific to drone operations. He suggested creating dedicated drone launchpads, formulating comprehensive drone policies, and fostering local drone startups. Shah shared with the audience that more than 33,000 drones have been registered in India to date, with over 24,000 certified drone pilots and 120 approved model type certifications. He added that 178 drone training institutes have been established across the country.
Shankesh Mehta, Director in the Civil Aviation Ministry responsible for Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS), discussed the ‘Project Sanjeevani’ initiative aimed at enhancing emergency helicopter medical support in remote areas. Implemented in collaboration with the Ministry, AIIMS Rishikesh, and the Uttarakhand State Government, the project has so far enabled over 65 successful relief and rescue missions. Mehta encouraged other states to adopt and support similar frameworks to strengthen remote healthcare access.
Executive Director of the Airports Authority of India, Sujoy Dey, elaborated on airport development models, pointing out that technical and environmental standards form the cornerstone of airport construction. He explained that factors such as wind direction, topographical surroundings, unobstructed airspace, and environmental impact assessments must be thoroughly considered before new facilities are developed.
General Manager at Pawan Hans Limited, PK Markan, emphasised on the importance of building permanent helipads in the states to support helicopter services. He explained that such infrastructure is critical not only for civilian and defence operations but also for emergency medical services, disaster response, and regional connectivity. He noted that permanent helipads would significantly increase the frequency and efficacy of helicopter operations across the country.
