Mysuru — A Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Civil Aviation met in Mysuru on August 23, marking the first time the panel has convened outside Delhi since 2017, officials said. The meeting, chaired by Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, brought national-level discussion on regional air connectivity and aviation-sector reforms to the city.
National policy discussions held in the cultural capital
The session, held in the presence of Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol, was attended by several Members of Parliament including Gopal Jee Thakur (Darbhanga), Anup Sanjay Dhotre (Akola), Sayani Ghosh (Jadavpur), Kamakhya Prasad Tasa (Kaziranga), Dr. M. Dhanapal (Rajya Sabha, Tamil Nadu), Ramrao Sakharam Wadkute (Rajya Sabha, Maharashtra) and Yaduveer Chamaraja Wadiyar, the Mysuru MP, according to the meeting brief.
Committee deliberations focused on three principal areas:
- Next Phase of UDAN and its implications for regional connectivity and airport development;
- Reforms in the Flying Training Organisation (FTO) ecosystem to augment pilot availability while retaining high safety and training standards;
- Transformation of the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA) and related capacity-building initiatives.
“Driven by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of UDAN, aviation is increasingly becoming an engine of regional development and inclusive economic growth; benefiting farmers, exporters, businesses and communities,”
In his address, the minister highlighted the government’s focus on extending aviation growth beyond major metros and treating airports as catalysts for regional development. The brief noted that over the last decade the government invested around Rs.10,000 crore in airport development and viability gap funding for airlines.
Major funding and policy announcements discussed
The committee was told that the government is taking the UDAN programme to a larger scale and has approved an unprecedented award of ₹28,840 crore under the Next Phase of UDAN, according to the meeting summary. Officials also outlined policy measures to support emerging aviation technologies such as drones and eVTOLs, and reforms in areas like MRO and air cargo.
| Topic | Focus |
|---|---|
| Next Phase of UDAN | ₹28,840 crore award; expansion of regional connectivity |
| FTO reforms | Enhance pilot availability; maintain safety and training standards |
| IGRUA transformation | Capacity building and training overhaul |
Committee members received briefings on reforms aimed at expanding the Flying Training Organisation network, which has grown from 32 FTOs (as per the briefing) to a larger ecosystem intended to meet rising demand for trained pilots. The meeting positioned these reforms as essential to sustaining India’s rapid expansion in air travel and related services.
Implications for Mysuru and the region
Holding the consultative committee in Mysuru signals the ministry’s intent to engage with regional stakeholders directly as planning for UDAN’s next phase accelerates. The funding and policy thrusts discussed have potential implications for Mysuru’s airport connectivity, local trade and tourism, and training opportunities for youth interested in aviation careers.
Local leaders and business groups may look to the committee’s outcomes to push for routes, infrastructure upgrades and training centres that benefit the city and neighbouring districts. The meeting also places Mysuru on the national dialogue around aviation innovation, including drones and cargo logistics, which could translate into local pilot projects or service hubs over the coming months.
Officials described the Mysuru meeting as part of a broader strategy to decentralise high-level consultations and bring ministry deliberations closer to regional realities, enabling tailored solutions for diverse geographies across the country.
