On ‘win-win’ runway, aviation no more rich man’s tarmac: Union Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju
Indian aviation is no more a rich man’s prerogative and growth will continue on high trajectory in the new year, Union Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said as the sector saw the much-needed reforms taking off in 2016 with new policy and ambitious regional connectivity plans. 2016 bloomed as a “very meaningful year” with over 20 per cent domestic air passenger growth while scrapping of the once famous ‘5/20’ overseas flying norms and relaxing of FDI rules added to the sector’s mojo. Turning operationally profitable in the last fiscal provided the much-needed impetus to Air India amid stiff competition among domestic carriers in 2016 even as they reaped benefits of lower oil prices — a scenario unlikely to remain the same next year with changing geopolitical vibes. Against this benign backdrop, passengers have a lot to cheer with airlines — from budget to full-service ones — coming up with discounted ticket prices as they look to fill more seats even as many ancillary services come at a price. Also, biometric access for passengers has been tested at Hyderabad International Airport while tag-free hand baggage system is being tried at various airports. As Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju remarked about the aviation sector, “It is a win-win situation.” All said and done, the sector’s trajectory had its share of air pockets with the abrupt sacking of Airports Authority of India (AAI) Chairman R K Srivastava as well as confusing signals over possible capping of air fares, an issue that has lost steam. As the year wound down, this week’s incident of 15 fliers getting injured after a Jet AirwaysBSE 1.58 % flight veering off the runway at Goa airport and two planes coming close to collision at the Delhi aerodrome stoked concerns over safety. Buoyed by high passenger growth numbers and headway in bridging the skill gap, Raju described 2016 as a “rather significant and a very meaningful year” for the aviation sector. Asserting that flying is “no more a rich man’s prerogative”, Raju, known for keeping a low profile and speaking his heart, said more people are flying and that India is the world’s largest growing aviation market. “Things are much better than what they were. Of course, the scope for improvement is a continuous process. Wherever you are, there is always scope for improvement,” he told PTI in an interview. “This growth is not going to be for eternity… Once you reach your levels, there will be a flattening out of growth, but India has scope for growth and we will continue to grow. There is no reason why we should not grow,” he noted. After years of much back and forth, the government in June finally came out with the much-awaited and talked-about national civil aviation policy. The framework, rolled out for the first time since Independence, seeks to propel sectoral growth across segments — airlines, airports, cargo and MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul), to name a few. In addition, various measures for improved ease of doing business and passenger-friendly ways are there. Seen as a millstone for the new-age domestic airlines, 2016 saw the government doing away with the ‘5/20’ norm whereby only those carriers having five years of operational experience and minimum of 20 planes were allowed to fly overseas. Paving the way for more foreign funds inflows into the aviation space, non-airline players can put in up to 100 per cent FDI in local carriers. At the same time, UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik) — the ambitious regional connectivity plan to make flying more affordable by connecting unserved and under-served airports — is in the air with the wow factor. The scheme, most likely to practically take wing next month, would see fares being capped at Rs 2,500 for one-hour flights. But on the flip side, a levy of Rs 8,500 per flight on busy routes to fund the regional connectivity scheme has ruffled feathers of established domestic players even as the government is targeting long-term benefits. Staying with passengers, the government revised the compensation upwards for flight delays and cancellations, apart from rolling out digital complaints filing system — AirSewa — with the promise of speedier redressal. For the first time in 10 years, flag carrier Air India posted Rs 105 crore operational profit for 2015-16 while its subsidiary and international budget arm, Air India Express also flew into the black by making a net profit of Rs 361.68 crore in the previous fiscal. The airline also created history by launching the world’s longest flight on the Delhi-San Francisco route over the Pacific Ocean. The Naresh Goyal-promoted Jet Airways, which saw an accident at the fag end of the year after its Boeing 737 plane skidded on the runway at the Goa airport just prior to take off for Mumbai, moved its European gateway to Dutch capital Amsterdam from Brussels after nearly nine years of operating flights from the Belgian capital. During the year, budget carrier IndiGo became the first Indian airline to operate the fuel-efficient A320 Neo plane while its peer GoAir became eligible for international operations as it inducted the much-needed 20th aircraft, an Airbus A320 Neo, into the fleet. It also received government’s permission to fly to nine international airports, including Iran and Uzbekitan. 2016 also saw a new regional airline — Air Carnival — taking off while Air Pegasus was forced to ground its operations. The latter’s flying permit has also been suspended by aviation regulator, DGCA. Around the same time, Air Costa shed its regional tag and joined the league of pan-India operators as DGCA granted it national operator’s permit. The slugfest between Tata Sons and Cyrus Mistry, who was unceremoniously removed as Chairman at the salt-to-software conglomerate in late October, brought the alleged irregularities at no-frills carrier AirAsia India to the fore. Tatas hold 51 per cent stake in AirAsia India and the rest is held by Malaysian budget airline AirAsia. Mistry alleged that there were fraudulent transactions worth Rs 22 crore in AirAsia India, prompting
Toll plaza crisis worsens after demonetisation
Despite the mounting protest against the toll collection at Paliyekkara after demonetisation, the dormant attitude of the district administration has drawn criticism. Day by day, activists of various political parties have been intervening in the long queues there and forcibly opening the toll gates for free passage of vehicles which invited complaints from the toll company management. In a petition by the toll company against the Youth Congress activists and Puthukkad SI for opening the toll gates during peak traffic for free passage, the management had alleged more than Rs 2.75 lakh revenue loss during December 14 to 17. It also alleged that various political parties brought a revenue loss of over Rs 1.93 lakh to the company. “Long queues and subsequent protest by passengers have become a daily phenomenon here and yet no one took the initiative to solve the issue. Considering the peak season of tourists and Sabarimala pilgrimage, the district administration should have addressed the issue here,” said DCC vice-president Joseph Tajet, who collected information on the toll company’s complaint on revenue loss through Right to Information Act. He added that if the revenue loss calculated by the company gets the nod, then the 20-year agreement would be a huge loss to the common tax payer. The UDF had submitted a petition to the PWD minister, district collector, rural SP and human rights commission addressing various issues at the toll plaza, but so far the authorities have done little to resolve these issues. Thomas Vanek Authentic Jersey
Expressway lenders to meet on plan to restart toll
Lenders of the Delhi-Gurgaon expressway project are scheduled to meet on January 4 to discuss legal options for a proposal being prepared to restart toll collection at the cities’ border even as the NHAI maintains there is no such plan. Millennium City Expressways Pvt Ltd (MCEPL), the company that operates and maintains the speedway, had told TOI on Wednesday it was preparing the proposal. Though sources said MCEPL had been asked to do so by the highways authority, there is no official communication from NHAI to MCEPL. Neither is there any official record of a meeting in the NHAI headquarters where the issue was discussed two weeks ago. Sources said everything is happening in an “informal” manner. They admitted any plan to resume toll collection draw huge public anger and NHAI will find it difficult to come out in support of any such move. The 32-lane Sirhaul toll plaza, on the expressway at the border of Gurgaon and Delhi, was scrapped in February 2014 on the orders of the Delhi high court after the NHAI and lenders agreed to it. On the latest proposal, an official, who did not wish to be named, said, “Under no circumstances can the NHAI approach the court. So, the present operator and lenders are taking the lead to explore options to approach the court. NHAI cannot cite no revenue from the project as a reason to reopen the case, but MCEPL and lenders can move an application as they are losing out on their investment.” Sources said the talk of restarting toll collection gained momentum due to increasing demand from local commuters and industries operating from Manesar to remove the other toll plaza on the expressway, at Kherki Dhaula. The Haryana government is in favour of this and had even proposed buying out the project. The state was keen to scrap the toll plaza before it the golden jubilee celebrations of Haryana began on November 1. But it did not materialise. Next Wednesday, experts will discuss legal aspects if they are to approach the court for permission to restart toll collection, sources said. Moreover, rebuilding the toll plaza is expected to cost around Rs 1.5 crore. The plan under preparation envisages completing toll plaza construction in six months if the proposal goes through. “Around 18 legal partners from the banks will meet on Wednesday to discuss how the matter should be presented in court. The first clearance has to come from the banks and legal partners because we do not want to waste time and money,” said a senior MCEPL official. One of the reasons that may be cited before the court to resume toll operations is NHAI’s loss of Rs 1 crore a month, its revenue from the Sirhaul toll plaza. Another logic would be that the commuters crossing Kherki Dhaula toll plaza are being made unfairly made to pay more to compensate. The toll fee charges from cars in February 2014 was Rs 26 per trip at Sirhaul toll plaza. After it was removed, this fee was hiked at Kherki Daula toll plaza. As a result, commuters who were initially paying Rs 33 at Kherki Daula are now paying Rs 60. Brad Daugherty Authentic Jersey
Shirdi airport: Maha to allot land to IOC for aviation
To make the Shirdi airport functional at the earliest, the Maharashtra government today decided to allot land to Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) for setting up aviation fuelling point. The decision was taken at the 57th Meeting of Board of Directors of Maharashtra Airport Development Company Limited (MADC) here. State Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is the Chairman of MADC. “Many decisions taken to make Shirdi Airport functional at earliest;allotment of land to @IndianOilcl for setting up of aviation fuelling point,” the Chief Minister’s Office tweeted. “Extension of terminal building,extension of runway from 2500m to 3200m, parking & other infrastructure were some other important decisions taken,” it added. Arian Foster Authentic Jersey
Mumbai: City airport data on our performance is wrong, says IndiGo
Long delays while flying in and out of Mumbai have been a sore point with passengers for years. But now the issue on-time performance (OTP) has become a bone of contention even between the choked airport and airlines operating from there too.Some carriers are alleging that they are being wrongly shown as being less punctual at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport—where all airlines record lowest on time performance (OTP) among the metros (see box)—according to monthly data issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).Budget airline IndiGo has questioned OTP monitoring by Mumbai International Airport Pvt Ltd (MIAL) and complained to the DGCA on this issue on Tuesday.The airline has accused MIAL of monitoring in a way that shows some ‘competing airlines’ as more punctual than they may be in reality.While IndiGo’s USP for long was its punctuality, in recent months, the regulator’s monthly data for OTP of domestic flights shows that other airlines overtook it on this front many times. For instance, in November, IndiGo was at number four—after SpiceJet, Jet and Vistara. Roman Josi Authentic Jersey
Airports authority of India sets ball rolling on new airport roads
The Airports Authority of India has started working towards developing three new roads to the Lohegaon Airport in a bid to decongest the existing roads. Recently, Sanjay Prakash — the DIG in charge of the western zone of Central Industrial Security Force — visited the airport on an inspection and expressed concerns about the traffic congestion. Last week, airport director Ajay Kumar said the AAI is working towards new road projects. “Currently, the Pune Municipal Corporation is in the process of acquiring land for main approach road — the proposed 30-metre DP Road from Sanjay Park to Airport Parking No.1. Land acquisition is on for another road, connecting Lunkad property to 509 Chowk. This road will act as diversion for the vehicles coming from Vimannagar, and going toward Vishrantwadi, Dhanori and Yerawada, and vice versa,” Kumar added. Demaryius Thomas Jersey
Air passenger traffic rises by 44 per cent in State
The number of air passengers from the State has witnessed a growth of around 44 per cent from April to November this year. While the number of total air passengers stood at 16.91 lakh during the corresponding period last year, it swelled to 24.28 lakh during the same time period. Interestingly, the passenger traffic growth stood at only 19 per cent between April and October this year. Gannavaram airport near Vijayawada witnessed 76 per cent passenger growth with industrialists and eminent persons from different parts of the country as well as abroad coming to Amaravati. While Tirupati airport registered a growth of 43 per cent, Visakhapatnam recorded 39 per cent and Rajahmundry airport witnessed a growth of 21 per cent. The number of passengers to the newly-inaugurated Kadapa airport stood at 65,444. C.J. Anderson Authentic Jersey
Wake-up call for DGCA
The Jet Airways aircraft skidding off the runway in Goa and the near-collision of SpiceJet and Indigo planes at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Tuesday is symptomatic of the ills that are plaguing the functioning of the directorate-general of civil aviation, the country’s airline regulator. The DGCA is headed by an officer belonging to the elite Indian Administrative Service, who is usually clueless on aviation, and by the time he get somewhat familiar with his job he is moved out after completing his three-year tenure. The outfit is also grossly understaffed, and given the global boom in aviation, the infrastructure needed for safety and regulation is sorely lagging. Air Traffic Control, the most important link in this sector, is like the DGCA also hugely understaffed. This is a scary situation as ATC staff have to be alpha alert at all times. In the case of the two aircraft literally nose to nose on Tuesday, it were the pilots who realised the near-fatal situation and informed the ATC, that had merrily given both aircraft permission to move on the same runway. Mason Cole Authentic Jersey
Gujarat government to unveil new integrated solar-wind hybrid policy
Considering the advantages of integrated solar and wind power projects, the Gujarat state government has decided to announce a new policy for such hybrid plants. It will be called Solar-Wind Hybrid Policy 2017. The government intends to invite suggestions from interested companies and other stakeholders for the proposed policy within a month. “The decision of the new policy for solar and wind hybrid projects has been taken by chief minister Vijay Rupani as the concept of such hybrid power plants has been gaining momentum off late across the country,” said an official statement from the government. Under the proposed policy, power sector players can install solar power generation units in existing wind parks and vice versa so that infrastructure utilization can be maximized. Oskar Sundqvist Jersey
Discoms recover Rs 3000 crore till mid-December post notes ban
The collection of power distribution companies across the country increased by a whopping Rs 3,000 crore post demonetization till December 15, according to government data. “Distribution companies’ collections increased by more than Rs 3,000 crore from November 10 to December 15, 2016 compared to last year,” the data showed. The Ministry is of the view that this will help achieve affordable tariffs. The Power Ministry had launched UDAY scheme for revival of the debt stressed power distribution companies last year in November. The scheme is expected to turn around these utilities by 2019, which would eventually help in increasing demand of electricity and boost the sector. According to statement, North Bihar Power Distribution Company saw a 204% increase, NESCO in Odisha saw a 251% increase, APDCL in Assam saw a 97% increase and TANGEDCO in Tamil Nadu saw a 97% increase in revenues. Besides, the power generation grew by 8.53% to 93.23 billion units (BU) in November as against 85.90 BUs in same month year ago. Rob Gronkowski Womens Jersey