Days Of 'Made In India' Passenger Planes Not Far: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (27 February) said that the day is not far when the citizens of India will travel in 'Made in India' passenger planes.

Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the newly-built Shivamogga Airport in Karnataka, PM Modi said that the demand for more aircraft is increasing by the day and even though India imports these aeroplanes from abroad, it won't be long before the country become self-reliant in manufacturing its own planes.

"Today India's aviation market is being talked about all over the world. Thousands of aircraft are going to be needed in the near future in India. Thousands of youngsters will be needed to work in these planes. Right now, even though we are importing these aircraft from abroad, the day is not far when the citizens of India will travel in 'Made in India' passenger planes. Many possibilities are going to open up for employment in the aviation sector," said PM Modi, according to a PMO release.

Slamming Congress party, PM Modi said that the Congress never thought about the fact that 'small towns should also be connected by air'. 

"We decided to change this situation. In the year 2014, there were 74 airports in the country. That is, even after seven decades of independence, there were only 74 airports in the country. While the BJP government has built 74 new airports in just 9 years," PM Modi said.

"The BJP government, which works for the poor, has done another crucial task. We decided that even a common man should be able to travel by air. That's why we started the UDAN scheme to provide air tickets at very low cost. Today, when I see several of my poor brothers and sisters boarding an airplane for the first time, it gives me immense satisfaction. This airport of Shivamogga will also become a witness to it," he added.