Blitz Bureau
INDIA’S civil aviation has pushed boundaries to become the third largest domestic aviation hub in the world during the last 10 years. Informing this, Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu said we need to break barriers once again and become the number one domestic hub in the world.
Unveiling the centenary celebrations logo of Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Naidu said this marks a momentous milestone in Indian aviation history of a historic airport, a pre-Independence marvel that stands as a testament to the legacy and progress of the country’s civil aviation sector.
Today, he said, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “the airport sector has been transformed.”
Naidu said the country had made rapid progress in the civil aviation sector. “The way airports have expanded, the way passenger capacity has expanded, airline fleets have grown, and cargo operations have surged, all verticals related to civil aviation have pushed boundaries under the leadership of our Prime Minister.”
He further said, “We are now the third-largest domestic aviation hub in the whole world. And now, we need to take it forward, break barriers once again, level up the civil aviation sector, and achieve the goal of becoming the number one domestic hub in the world.”
Reflecting on the transformative impact of the UDAN scheme, he remarked: “The UDAN scheme has been revolutionary in the civil aviation sector. Over the last eight years, we have launched more than 600 flights, transporting crores of people. The scheme has made the vision of ‘Hawai Chappal in Hawai Jahaz’ a reality.
Naidu said, “Today, as we celebrate 100 years of Kolkata Airport, we see this as a source of inspiration and a sense of pride for the entire country. This is a proud moment for all of us, where we are continuing the legacy built by our nation and drawing inspiration from it for future achievements.” As part of the centenary celebrations, the minister announced a series of initiatives that include the release of a commemorative stamp and coin to honour the 100 years of Kolkata Airport, launch of an art book showcasing India’s cultural heritage reflected in modern airport architecture, and three-month-long celebrations involving the people, along with the Airport Authority of India.
