Air connectivity, key to infrastructure growth: Patel

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Ahmedabad, Nov. 23

Investments to the tune of $150 billion are expected in the domestic aviation sector in the next 10 years, which would transform it into a sunrise sector such as information technology and telecommunication, according to the Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Praful Patel, here.

He emphasised that the Government need not look for funds for infrastructure development.

It should not be a regulator but act merely as a good facilitator to attract investments to create infrastructure which would give a fillip to economy.

Creating infrastructure is the most important key to progress.

Confluence 2007

Inaugurating "Confluence 2007," an international management summit at the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (IIMA), he said while the US has around 5,500 operating airports, India has only 81, which are expected to increase to 108 in the next couple of years.

Stressing that India should have at least 500 airports in the next few years, he said air connectivity was the key to infrastructure development, businesses, tourism and national integration. "Nobody should need to travel beyond 50 km to board an aircraft."

The theme of the four-day Confluence this year is "India towards economic leadership" in which about 1,200 participants from across the globe, including nine from Pakistan, are participating.

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