Finally Indian Government could place the order for $ 2.2 Billion worth of planes (43 of them), a deal that was to have been closed three years back.
The previous Vajapayee Government did the right thing to let Indian Airlines think bold; but suddenly developed cold feet.
Any large purchase gets into a controversy in India, where throwing mud is so easy. . The Prime Minister must be complemented for announcing this deal when the EU President and British Prime Minister are visiting India; the Western Media will cover this positive news (otherwise the media in the West routinely reports all the bad news from India; though we have plenty of them, we have many good things too, that somehow never make it to the News)
So many good projects have suffered in Bangalore – Airport, Metro, Arkvathy Layout, Mysore Expressway, Ring Road,,– all good for people, but not good for greedy politicians, who in the name of poor, squeeze out the milk meant for the poor and drink the very milk, cruel indeed.
One hopes that the politicians will let India march ahead; thinking big, taking bold decisions, commanding respect through action is the only way India can get out of the poverty; not by scuttling well-meaning projects and announcing endless subsidies.
The present Aviation Minister Praful Patel managed to get one fairly good new Terminal building within a year in Mumbai. He has now managed to close the Air India order for Boeing ($ 3 Billion) in June and the current $ 2 Billion order for Airbus. Let his tribe multiply
With other Airlines (including budget airlines) ordering planes worth $ 6 Billion, India is driving the global aviaion industry. It is time Bangalore becomes Aviation capital too (beyond IT and BT capital!)
