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The civil aviation ministry is likely to get an allocation of Rs 3,046.93 crore (Rs 3..47 billion) for the next fiscal, including a gross budgetary support of Rs 130 crore (Rs 1.3 billion), for acquisition of training aircraft and equipment by the Aero Club of India, pilot training and for Airports Authority of India.
The amount for 2006-07 was discussed at the annual plan meeting of the Planning Commission and the civil aviation ministry held recently, official sources said on Monday.
The GBS for the sector was fixed at Rs 119.21 crore (Rs 1.19 billion) by the Commission, but the ministry asked for an additional Rs 13 crore (Rs 130 million) for the Aero Club of India.
Of the Rs 130 crore, AAI would get Rs 42.91 crore (Rs 429 million) and DGCA Rs 29 crore (Rs 290 million).
Civil aviation secretary Ajay Prasad highlighted problems related traffic movement and infrastructural bottlenecks at the presentation made during the meeting with Anwarul Hoda, member, planning commission.
Prasad also stressed the need for augmenting training facilities in view of the growth of the sector and said the country required 800 pilots every year up to 2010, besides 800 engineers and 1,200 technicians during the next three years.
He also expressed concern over the lack of infrastructure for training pilots at IGRUA, which has a capacity to train only 30 pilots, and said it needs to be increased to 100.
Prasad proposed setting up of a flying training academy in Maharashtra.
The commission has asked for detailed assessment of demand and supply gap of pilots and the financial requirements for the purpose. It also pointed at the inadequate delays in certain projects under the AAI.