Bringing smiles on the faces of people from Bilaspur division in State, who’re protesting for air-connectivity from Bilaspur, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Aviation, Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri, announced commencement of air-service from Bilaspur with effect from March 1, 2021. Union Minister Puri made the said announcement while addressing the mediapersons at a press conference held at Kushabhau Thakre Parisar (BJP State Hq). During interaction with the mediapersons, he said, from next month air-service from Bilaspur will commence. To start with the flight route connecting Bilaspur with the national capital will be New Delhi-Prayagraj (Allahabad)-Bhopal-Jabalpur-Bilaspur through Alliance Air.

 

Efforts are being made so that direct flight connecting Bilaspur with the national capital can be initiated as well. He said that he came to know that people in Bilaspur were carrying out agitation for this air-connectivity. He asked as to why they were agitating as it was not required because Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already assured. Puri said that under the UDAAN initiative, already 57 airports have been upgraded and over 700 routes have been planned, of which air-service has already commenced in 311 routes. He said that the UdaAn initiative was commenced in 2017 with a budget of Rs 4,500 crore. He said that already 56 airports have been upgraded and his Ministry has set a target of upgrading 100 airports and starting air-service on at least 1,000 routes.

 

Puri while praising former Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh and the erstwhile BJP government in Chhattisgarh for its development initiative, said the development works like enhanced rail connectivity or air connectivity, etc is being possible today only because the previous BJP Government had laid a firm base for the same. Had it been not so, the centre would have to start from scratch which would have taken time. Puri said in the Union Budget for financial year 2021-22 an allocation of Rs 3,650 crore, which is 1074% more than the average allocation in-between 2009-14 and 631% more than average allocation in-between 2014-19, which is a major jump in this sector. He said in the Urban Affairs sector, during the tenure of the erstwhile Congress-led UPA Government, the total allocations in the Urban Sector was Rs 1.55 crore in 10 years whereas, the NDA Government had spent Rs 11 lakh crore which is six times more in six years.

 

Briefing about the allocation of budget 2021-22, Union MoS (I/c) Puri said after the budget was presented, the stock market witnessed a considerable boost. The budget also got accolades from intellectuals and independent commentators across the country. Even the IMF and the Economic Survey predicted over 11 percent growth. When queried over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remarks that the budget reflects Centre’s intention to privatise PSUs, the Union Minister blamed Congress for weakening the economic condition of Air India. He said though he generally doesn’t react to the former AICC President’s comments or tweets because after a point of time he realises that he has made an erroneous comment.

 

So far as the point being instigated by him is about privatisation of Air India, which is our national asset, its economic condition was worsened during the Congress-led UPA Government. At present, Air India has an accumulated debt of Rs 60,000 crore and the process of its privatisation is under way since long but it will be the NDA Government which is going to properly materialise it, said Puri. He assured that the process will be carried out transparently through open bidding. Praising the Congress Government for privatising New Delhi and Mumbai airport in 2006, due to the said privatisation process, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) received Rs 29,000 crore, which was used in development of other airports, he said while adding that privatisation is required as it is not the Government’s specialisation to run airports. Although there are several airports which are being successfully run, but when private capital enters, the activities increase manifold, he added. Over farmers’ protest against the new farm laws, Puri accused the opposition of misleading the farmers over the laws and said his government is ready to sit with them (farmers) to resolve the issue. He also expressed confidence that the issue will be resolved soon.