JOIN USPrime Minister Narendra Modi said Indian aviation companies had ordered 900 aircraft in the last one year and their induction in the coming years would change the face of civil aviation in the country.
"Civil aviation is an important component of the infrastructure development... people wearing hawai-chappal should be able to fly in hawai-jahaz," Modi said to a thunderous applause, at the ceremony laying foundation stone to the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) in Raigad district.
"We are working with a focused approach our government had the honour of bringing an aviation policy that is transforming the sector," he said, adding and slammed the previous non-BJP governments of "latkana, atkana, patkana" (delays, roadblocks and junking) involving infrastructure projects.
"Nearly Rs 10 lakh crore projects were "latke and bhatke" (pending and lost) for the last two to three decades," he said, adding that these were being reviewed and pushed.
The NMIA, he said, was conceived in 1997 under the leadership of the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
"The issue of Navi Mumbai airport has been pending for years. And, this is not the only project that is pending. When I assumed office I realised there were several such projects. That is why we began a 'pragati' initiative and gave priority to completion of projects," he said.
"India now has around 450 aircraft, both owned by the private civil aviation companies and the government... in the 70 years since Independence, we have 450 aircraft. But now, it gives me pride to announce that in last one year the country has ordered 900 airplanes," Modi said.
"In the last year, the ordering of new aircrafts in India has risen. This is wonderful because a strong aviation sector also gives more economic opportunities. Better connectivity leads to more tourists coming to India... it also generates employment," said Modi.
"India's aviation sector is growing tremendously. There is a sharp increase in the number of people flying. This makes quality infrastructure in the aviation sector of prime importance," he said.
Developing ports
The prime minister, who also inaugurated and dedicated to the nation the fourth container terminal of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust at Nhava Sheva, said that ports and waterways are key component of infrastructure development.
"The Sagar Mala project is ushering not only development of ports but also port-led development," he said, adding that his government is making significant efforts towards the development of waterways. "We have identified 100 plus waterways," he said.