Aviation ministry gets new face at helm
January 19th, 2011 - 9:14 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 19 (IANS) Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan in the national capital has got a new face at the helm with veteran Congress leader Vayalar Ravi given additional charge of the high-profile aviation portfolio in the cabinet reshuffle undertaken by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday.Ravi continues as minister for overseas Indian affairs with cabinet rank.
The aviation portfolio was previously held by Praful Patel, as minister of state with independent charge, right since Manmohan Singh took over the reins of the first United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in May 2004.
Patel is now a cabinet minister for heavy industries and public enterprises.
A law graduate who was first came to parliament as a member of the fifth Lok Sabha way back in 1971, Ravi takes charge of the aviation portfolio at a time when the national carrier Air India faces an unprecedented financial crisis.
The National Aviation Company of India — the parent company of the Air India brand — suffered losses to the tune of Rs.5,551 crore in 2009-10, in addition to the loss of Rs.7,189 crore in the previous year.
The government had infused equity worth Rs.800 crore in February 2010 and another dose of Rs.1,200 crore last month to tide over the crisis and finance the fleet acquisition plan of 111 aircraft ordered from Boeing and Airbus in 2006.
The 73-year-old Ravi, who was also home minister of Kerala in early 1980s, has been a member of the parliamentary consultative committee on civil aviation. His first task may call for asking the government for more money to stabilise the flag carier.
The die-hard Congressman will also oversee the preparations for centenary celebrations of India’s first commercial flight on Feb 18, 1911 — which flew from Allahabad to Naini, both in Uttar Pradesh.
Ravi’s additional charge also comes at a time when Kerals’s new airport terminal in the state capital is ready. The minister was to inaugurate it last July but Communist Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan asked the prime minister, instead, to do the honours.
Ravi is not among Achuthanandan’s best of friends.
Now, Ravi will now have the last laugh as he will preside over the function as aviation minister to open the new airport to the public, with Manmohan Singh — who had laid its foundation stone Nov 1, 2006 — as the chief guest.
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- Am aware of Air India's woes, solution soon: PM - Jun 30, 2011
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- List of Manmohan Singh's 'reshuffled' council of ministers (Lead) - Jan 19, 2011
- Air India will turnaround, once revival plan takes off: Vayalar Ravi - Jun 14, 2011
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