Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s Independence Day speech has raised fresh hopes within the aviation ministry and stakeholders with regard to the revival package for the ailing Air India.
A senior civil aviation ministry official said that the finance ministry might bring in funds for the carrier by next month.” The mention of AI in PM’s speech means a lot. It means the issue is alive, all the meetings and discussions may lead to revival of the company .We are hopeful that the equity infusion will come by October,” the official said.
Arvind Jadhav, chairman of national carrier also met finance ministry officials on Monday to discuss the equity infusion.
Civil aviation minister Praful Patel has brought up the Air India’s troubles to prime minister several times. The carrier has been lobbying for an equity infusion of Rs 2,000-2, 500.Patel, in a meeting on Thursday, had also taken up the AI issue with his colleagues in Union Cabinet. The airline officials are of the view that the reference of AI in the PM’s speech shows the urgency for funds.
“We have always been optimistic. The AI’s mention reflects the sense of urgency with which the government is responding to Air India’s request for infusion of funds,”Jitendra Bhargava, AI spokesperson said.
Prime minister on August 15 had said that the government is giving carefull attention to the problems of Air India and will resolve them soon.
Patel had expressed his happiness in PM’s note.” I am happy that Air India has found mention in the Prime minister’s Independence Day address, which shows the priority being accorded to Air India by the government,” he said.
AI – with and equity capital of Rs145 crore – has accumulated losses of Rs 7,200 crore.The airline, according to aviation ministry official, was originally seeking an infusion of Rs1, 250 crore, which was later revised to Rs 2,200 – Rs 2,500 core.
|
|
