Poor aviation infrastructure could cripple growth: CAPA

Mumbai, Apr 27 (UNI) Airport infrastructure in India has emerged as a critical issue in ensuring that aviation and tourism sectors are able to grow to their potential, a top expert said today.

The government has announced a nine billion dollar upgrade and modernisation to plan covering gateway and regional airports. But poor infrastructure and aviation policies remain the biggest entry barrier for investors.

In comparison, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) plans to spend over 30 billion dollars in the next five years on new infrastructure projects, government and commercial buildings besides residential accommodation.

Mr Peter Harbison, executive chairman of the Sydney-based Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA), said the aviation sector in India is likely to remain constraint by infrastructure in the next five years unless there is much faster rate of construction than is being currently planned.

"This is a crisis, not just a policy matter." With expansion of international routes to regional airports, about 20 billion dollars will be needed in the next 10 years just to accommodate current expansion plans.

"We hope the new civil aviation policy will address these short and long term issues," he told delegates who gathered here for the two-day investors' meet.

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