Stiff challenges ahead for new Civil Aviation Minister

Hardeep Singh Puri, who has been appointed as Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, has his job cut out for him.

A career diplomat, Puri also holds additional charge of Housing, Urban Affairs and Commerce and Industry all of which should help him take a holistic view of the civil aviation sector.

KC Singh, a former diplomat and Puri’s batch mate, feels that the new Minister is taking over at a “challenging time” as one airline has shut down and a question mark hangs over the future of Air India but adds that Puri will bring basic common sense into how civil aviation operates globally.