
No Jet monopoly on Indian skies: Govt
Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel has allayed apprehension in the industry about Jet Airways gaining monopoly in the Indian skies following its takeover of Air Sahara.
Patel said mergers and acquisitions were becoming common practice and there was no need to fear.
"Mergers and acquisitions have become a common practice these days...This is going to happen but there is no need to fear about monopoly", he said on Friday night on the sidelines of a function "Mumbai Dialogue".
"Every airline starts in a small way and tries to expand its operations. We have been liberal in granting licences to private airlines. Already some have been permitted and applications of few others were being considered", he added.
Citing the instance of Indian (formerly Indian Airlines), the Minister said the domestic airlines once had 100 per cent share in aviation passenger traffic but its share declined considerably over a period of time.
To a question as to when would the approval be given to the Jet-Sahara merger, Patel said it depended on the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the Company Law Board, which were the competent authorities.
The Civil Aviation Ministry has no role to play in this regard, he said, adding that the regulator would take stock of the situation once they receive a formal application from the management of Jet Airways.
Patel, however, reiterated that the Government was committed to develop infrastructure in the aviation sector not only with the restructuring and modernisation of Delhi and Mumbai airports but also with upgrading airports at Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai and in other cities.

2020-21 likely to see record paddy procurement

Union Cabinet approves L-G proposal for President’s rule in Puducherry

BJP, Congress trade barbs over Motera stadium renaming

Facebook now says it’s not obligated to appear before Parliamentary panels

Toolkit case: Shantanu Muluk’s bail plea hearing today

CBI names TMC youth leader in charge-sheet of cattle smuggling case
- Earlier this month, CBI in the first charge-sheet in the case had named BSF Commandant Satish Kumar and Murshidabad-based businessman Enamul Haque along with five others for their alleged involvement in cattle smuggling across the India-Bangladesh border.

Top court proposes cadre of magistrates to fill gaps in police investigation
- The bench, also comprising Justices L Nageswara Rao and S Ravindra Bhat apart from Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde were of the view that magistrates should play a more “intrusive” role in investigation.

College student in Andhra Pradesh killed for rejecting marriage proposal
- Police said the accused and the victim were in a relationship for a year, but of late she had been avoiding him.

Higher fares for short distance trains to discourage needless travel: Railways
- The national carrier at present is operating only special passenger trains since the curbs on lockdown were eased. Regular passenger trains have been suspended since March 25, 2020.

New strains not more infectious, need to aggressively monitor situation: Guleria

2 security personnel killed in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur in Maoist attacks
- Both the casualties took place due to IED blasts.

Govt clarifies on controversy over Motera stadium being named after PM

India plans new social media controls after Twitter face-off

Differences in Meghalaya BJP intensifies, coalition govt comes under strain
- The BJP unit has also been at loggerheads with the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) dispensation with its chief Earnest Mawrie accusing it of anomalies in governance.

UP cops hunt for clues into case of college girl found with burn injuries
- Shahjahanpur’s superintendent of police S Anand, SP, denied reports that the girl was burnt after a failed rape attempt