-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Wishing all Goanetters | | a Prosperous | | and | | Happy New Year - 2006 | | Goanet - http://www.goanet.org | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- <''We have to increase the capacity of the Mumbai airport, while ensuring all safety aspects are taken care of. Using the runways simultaneously will help ease congestion.'' ...''ATCs from less busy airstrips are also being brought into Delhi and Mumbai,'' the minister said.>
There is a real need for the Civil Aviation Ministry to think out of the box for a change. A key reason for the congestion at Mumbai (and Delhi) is a marked reluctance to build up traffic at other airports, bypassing these two metros. We all know how long it took for Trivandrum to start getting direct international flights. What if Goa also got more direct Gulf fights and new scheduled flights to Europe? Wouldnt that ease some of the pressure on Mumbai? This brings us to the persistent blindspot in aviation policy and planning -- the military control over nearly 30 airports including Goa's Dabolim. These airports need to be "de-militarised" pronto to facilitate direct domestic and international flights. Then see how the "congestion" at Mumbai and Delhi evaporates, at least in relative terms! Instead we have the anomalous situation where ATCs from the "less busy" airports are being poached to beef up the staff strength at Mumbai! Of course, there is the talk of upgrading 35 non metro airports etc including Dabolim. But there is still no willingness to take the bull by the horns and re-cast the antediluvian mindset towards military control in the explosive growth situation the civil aviation sector is facing especially vis a vis low cost air travel. The military itself is unable or unwilling to take a proactive stance in the circumstances. Somebody has to drag the military kicking and screaming into the 21st century of civil aviation! -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Goa - 2005 Santosh Trophy Champions | | | | Support Soccer Activities at the grassroots in our villages | | Vacationing in Goa this year-end - Carry and distribute Soccer Balls | --------------------------------------------------------------------------
