Vision 2020 statement to replace civil aviation policy soon, says Praful Patel

Mumbai: The civil aviation policy will soon be replaced with a Vision 2020 statement, an amalgamation of all policy directives and initiatives in the sector so far, according to civil aviation minister Praful Patel. The statement would pave the way forward for civil aviation in the country, Patel said on Sunday at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport.

"The statement has already been sent to the cabinet and in a few months, we'll be able to put the policy in place," Patel added.

He was speaking to the media on the sidelines of an announcement by Jet Airways that the newly merged airline was inducting two new aircraft, a Boeing 777-300 and an Airbus 330-200 for its long-haul flights on international routes.

Patel also voiced his concern over the slow progress in the slum rehabilitation programme around the Mumbai airport and said that this would prove to be a major impediment to the airport's modernisation plan.

It is understood that the minister did some plain speaking with State government and Mumbai International Airport Ltd authorities regarding the snail pace of the rehabilitation work.