A bill to set up the first-ever national aviation university in the country named after Rajiv Gandhi to train pilots, cabin crew and aircraft engineers was passed in Parliament today.
The proposed university would come up at Sonia Gandhi's constituency of Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh.
The Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University Bill, 2013 was passed without discussion in the Rajya Sabha today, while it was cleared yesterday in Lok Sabha after a short debate.
The bill provides for creation of this central university on a 26 acre plot at the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Udaan Academy at Fursatganj in Rae Bareli.
The university, an autonomous body under administrative control of the Civil Aviation Ministry, would have a funding of Rs 202 crore during the 12th Plan period, of which Rs 80 crore has already been sanctioned by the Centre.
The need for the university was felt due to the "marked absence of credible institutions imparting specialised technical and managerial training in air transportation, safety, security and regulatory areas," the bill's Statement of Objects and Reasons said.
"The opportunity cost of not investing in human resources required for the civil aviation sector in India at this juncture would result in reduced growth, increased cost of operations, compromise on safety and missed opportunities," it said.
The university would promote aviation studies, training and research with focus on emerging areas like aviation management, aviation regulation and policy, aviation history, aviation science and engineering, aviation law, aviation safety and security and aviation medicine.
