New Delhi: The government has entered into a bilateral Air Service Agreement with 101 countries including SAARC nations, Rajya Sabha was told today.

In a written reply, Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said domestic air traffic is growing at the rate of around 45 per cent annually and international traffic at the rate of around 15 per cent per annum.

NOC: At present 10 applications for grant of NOC to operate Scheduled Air Transport Passenger Services are pending. The proposals are under examination in terms of financial viability, project feasibility, profitability analysis and analysis of the business plan, Patel said.

Academy: There is a proposal to establish an Integrated Aviation Training Academy at existing international airport at Begumpet, Hyderabad, once commercial aircraft operations are shifted to new greenfield airport at Shamshabad, he said.

Workers: Contract workers are engaged by contractors and paid wages and other facilities as per the statutory provisions by such contractors. As such Airports Authority of India is not required statutorily to regularise them. No daily wagers or casual labours are engaged by the AAI, he said.

Airports: The government wishes to expand the aviation infrastructure. Hence, it has approved setting up of second airport at Navi Mumbai near Mumbai through Public Private Partnership model.

There are also proposals for setting up a second airport near Delhi and Chennai, he said.

Source : PTI