25% jump in IPDS, DDUGJY funds to ensure 24X7 power for all
The proposal to hike expenditure under IPDS and DDUGJY schemes together by 25 per cent to Rs 10,635 crore as provided in the budget is likely to pave the way for sustainable energy for all. The allocations under the Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) have been increased by over 25 per cent to Rs 10,635 crore in 2017-18 as compared to budget estimate of Rs 8,500 crore for this fiscal. However, the budget document stated that the revised estimate of these two schemes together, which are meant for increasing efficiency of power transmission and distribution, was Rs 7,874 crore for the current fiscal. “Today’s budget gave a clear indication of the government’s focus to achieve ‘sustainable energy for all’, with two of its critical steps,” Schneider Electric India Country President and MD Anil Chaudhry said on the budget that was presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. He said, “Providing a boost to rural electrification with a 25 per cent increase in the outlay for key power schemes like IPDS and DDUGJY is expected to fast-track the rural electrification drive, which is now planned to be completed by May 1, 2018. Second, (it can be achieved) by strengthening focus on renewable energy forms with inflow of another 20 GW in the next fiscal.” DDUGJY’s objectives include separate agriculture and non-agriculture feeders, strengthen and augment sub-transmission and distribution infrastructure in rural areas and rural electrification. IPDS’ objective is 24×7 power supply for consumers, reduction of AT&C losses and providing access to all households. The budget has provided Rs 750 crore for 2017-18 under the head Power System Development Fund. The scheme envisages strengthening of existing distribution and transmission infrastructure by part-funding through grants. It also provides for subsidy to discoms purchasing electricity from stranded gas-based power plants. The overall budget of Ministry of Power has also been raised to Rs 13,881 crore in 2017-18, from Rs 12,252 crore budget estimate and Rs 10,475 crore revised estimate for the current fiscal. Similarly, the total expenditure of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has also been increased to Rs 5,473 crore in 2017-18 from budget estimate of Rs 5,036 crore and revised estimate of Rs 4,360 crore in the current fiscal. Power Minister Piyush Goyal told PTI that the government’s push to rural sector and housing for all initiative will stoke demand of power and help improve plant load factor (PLF). Jarome Iginla Womens Jersey
Government Allocates Rs 1,800 crore as Budgetary Support to Air India
The government has put aside Rs 1,800 crore as budgetary allocation for Air India for the financial year 2017-18, less than what the national carrier asked for, in an indication the government continues its squeeze on fund handouts to the loss-making carrier. In the last financial year, the government had allocated Rs 1,713 crore while the carrier had asked for a total of Rs 3,300 crore. In the supplementary grants, the government allotted Rs 752 crore more making it a total of Rs 2,465 crore. A reduction in fuel prices and its own cost cutting measures has helped Air India reduce losses but it still accounts for the biggest chunk in the industry. In FY16, the airline posted a net loss of Rs 3,837 crore as compared to Rs 5,859 crore in the previous year. The bigger bother for the carrier however is its Rs 46,000 crore debt. Lohani had in a recent interview with ET said the government’s squeeze of financial support will lead to further pile-up of loans. “The government is giving us support to the extent of servicing loans raised for the procurement of planes as desired by it. It is always the owner who pays for the capital invested. These funds don’t even fully cover the loan repayments. These are not subsidies,” he said. “What will happen is that the money I owe to other organisations, including banks, will rise. We have to meet our costs: either by borrowing from banks, or delaying payments. That has been happening for several years,”he added. Henrik Sedin Womens Jersey
Civil Aviation Ministry gets 22% more budgetary funds for 2017-18
The Civil Aviation Ministry today received a substantial increase of over 22 per cent in budgetary allocation at Rs 5,167.60 crore for the next financial year. In the Union Budget 2017-18, presented by the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Parliament today, out of the ministry’s total allocation, a good chunk will be for Air India, which is to get Rs 1,800 crore. The amount will be extended to the national carrier as part of the bailout package announced by the then UPA government in 2012. Besides, the airline will be given Rs 508 crore as part of investment in public enterprises. National airports operator AAI (Airports Authority of India) has been allocated Rs 2,543 crore, apart from a budgetary support of Rs 100 crore. Meanwhile, the budgetary funds for aviation watchdog DGCA has been stepped up significantly to Rs 230.56 crore for 2017- 18. The amount is at Rs 29.67 crore for the current fiscal. Significantly, UN aviation watchdog, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is scheduled to audit India’s air safety preparedness in the second half of this year. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), the country’s apex aviation safety agency, has been allocated Rs 214.50 crore in the latest Budget. Eric Kendricks Jersey
Kolkata:Staff licence uncertainty may ground airport operations from April
Airline officials are wary of flight disruptions from April 1 if the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) refuses entry passes to staff of ground-handling agencies outsourced by various airlines at the Kolkata and other Indian airports. The current entry passes used by nearly 6 lakh staff of 400-odd ground-handling agencies at Indian airports are valid till March 31, 2017. According to the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016, from April 1, 2017, airlines will only be permitted to hire staff from three registered ground-handling agencies at each airport. Air India Air Transport Services Ltd (AI ATSL) and Bhadra International are the two recognized agencies at Kolkata airport at present, though nearly a dozen other agencies operate here, providing services to Jet Airways, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Go Airways. Other than 200-odd staff of AI ATSL and 350-odd people of Bhadra International, there are several other ground-handling agencies like JP Aviation Services, JSM Enterprise and MK Enterprise to whom airlines have outsourced various jobs including cleaning aircraft, loading and unloading baggage, providing wheelchair assistance and transferring baggage from aircraft ramp to arrival gate and from departure gate to aircraft ramp. Loui Eriksson Authentic Jersey
RGNAU to Launch US-India Aviation Cooperation Programme
As reported by PIB, multiple experts will be participating in the programme by delivering high end lectures on various key topics such as Next Generation Transportation Systems, Airport Planning, Air Traffic Flow Management, Safety and Security and Sustainability in Aviation. In a bid to promulgate knowledge among aviation professionals, the Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University (RGNAU) in association with US-India Aviation Cooperation Programme has decided to launch its first Executive Development Programme tomorrow, February 2, 2017. As reported by PIB, multiple experts will be participating in the programme by delivering high end lectures on various key topics such as Next Generation Transportation Systems, Airport Planning, Air Traffic Flow Management, Safety and Security and Sustainability in Aviation. Apart from this, the programme will also be attended by several CxO level executives, C-level professionals from the industry, and experts and senior officials from the Regulatory Authorities. It is widely anticipated that such initiatives will not only help the senior professionals, but also keep them in touch with the latest trends in the aviation sector. Shaquil Barrett Authentic Jersey
Will private players look at regional airports now?
State-owned airports will now be allowed to monetise the huge parcel of land that it holds across the country in order to encourage private sector participation in developing these airports. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his speech of the Union Budget 2017-18 proposed a change in the Airports Authority of India (AAI) Act allowing the airport operator to use the land bank for commercial purposes. At present, the act allows an airport operator to use land only for aviation-related services. With 128 airports across the country, AAI owns almost 55,000 acres of land. The minister also said that airports in Tier-2 cities will be taken for operation and maintenance in a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model. Will the move encourage private players to bid for management contracts of airports in cities like Ahmedabad, Jaipur? According to senior officials in AAI, the two Budget announcements have a history and should be seen in connection. AAI, which functions under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, had applied for relaxation in land usage norms back in 2010 following a request by the country’s private parties. The move was made after AAI announced city-side development of 15 airports, through private participation. Private players said that not allowing commercial development for non-aeronautical activities will make such projects unviable, as many of these airports have very low footfall. “If the government wants private players to participate in the development of airports at regional cities, it is necessary that those players are allowed to monetise from the commercial development of those,” a senior AAI official said. A senior official of major private player which owns airport said that the group will evaluate such opportunities. “As an airport operator we are interested in either fully owning or just operation and maintenance of airports, we will evaluate on a case-by-case basis,” he said. Jimmy Vesey Womens Jersey