No compromise on air passenger safety, says Raju

New Delhi, Dec 21: Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju on Thursday asserted that safety and security of air passengers is never compromised notwithstanding some limitation about shortage of skilled and trained people in some departments in aviation sector.

Responding to supplementary questions from Sudip Bandyopadhyay (Trinamool) and R Vanaroja (AIADMK), the Minister told the Lok Sabha that government is ever sensitive to the issues of safety of passengers and all necessary precautions are taken.
Mr Bandyopadhyay wanted to know whether shortage of skilled and trained manpower is often causing hurdles in safety and security issues. Citing media reports, he also alleged that some cockroach were found in first class cabin of Air India aircraft.
Answering questions from Pinaki Misra of Biju Janata Dal, Mr Raju said the Centre has granted 'in principle' approval for 19 Greenfield airports in the country.
A total investment of Rs 27,000 crore would be made under Public Private Partnership (PPP) model and such airports would come in states like Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra.
Mr Raju also told Mr Misra that steps are being taken up to start a new airport in North West Odisha.
A Sampat of CPI-M pointed out that air travel between Kerala and New Delhi take at least five hours and therefore to accommodate more passengers, the government should consider operating larger aircraft on the route. Responding to him, the Civil Aviation Minister said these are commercial decisions and are taken by air operators but the member's sentiment would be passed onto them. UNI