Minister asks Praful Patel to develop aircraft industry

Chennai, June 20 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation G K Vasan appealed to Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel to provide impetus for the development of aircraft maintenance industry in the backdrop of the aviation industry growth in Tamil Nadu.

Participating at a book release function of ''Wheels on Wings,'' an autobiography of Hindustan Group of Institutions Founder Chairman K C G Verghese here last night, Mr Vasan was all praise for Mr Patel for his 'outstanding performance as Union Minister.' Releasing the book, Mr Patel said the aviation industry should be integrated with the development of the nation and become one of the key drivers of the economy.

''We have 225 planes belonging to public and private sector carriers flying across the country and the globe, now. This is not sufficient to meet the growing requirements of the industry which has vast potential for further development,'' he added.

Though India had a population of 110 crore, only 90 lakh used aircraft for travel constituting a meagre ten per cent which is not sufficient for the speedy development of the sector.

Both Air India and Indian had purchased 111 aircraft so far at a cost of Rs 45,000 crore.

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