Modi govt’s transport plan for India: From ‘hawai chappal’ to ‘hawal jahaj’

“Hawai chappal wale ko hawai jahaj main bithana hain (those wearing bathroom slippers have to be taken in an aeroplane)”< says Jayant Sinha, minister of state for civil aviation, on the government's intent to make flying affordable. Investment revival, especially in the highway and port sectors, is another plank of the Narendra Modi government's transport policy, the overall theme being improving of connectivity through better infrastructure. Enabling policies in aviation, along with a window provided by cheaper fuel prices, has allowed India to become the third largest market for domestic passengers, behind America and China. However, infrastructure bottlenecks are an issue.The government's Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) in aviation, to put previously unconnected cities on the map, is finally shiwing signs of picking up. Through viability gap funding, financed from a levy on trunk routes, the government aims to entice airline operators to start operations on routes considered