By Staff Correspondent
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India is gearing up for expansion plans to accommodate the rapidly growing air traffic in the country. Arun Kumar, the Director General of DGCA, announced that the organisation plans to open six new regional offices in Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Agartala, Amritsar, Nagpur, and Dehradun, in addition to upgrading and strengthening its existing infrastructure.
Kumar shared that the new offices will begin operations soon as the air traffic demand in these cities proliferates. DGCA is currently stationed in 14 locations across the country, and the addition of six new regional offices will bring the figure up to 19.
To meet the growing demands, DGCA is also recruiting additional staff to boost regulatory oversight. Currently, 700 personnel are stationed at the existing 14 locations, including air safety officers, aerodrome officers, engineers, and other technical personnel. Kumar revealed that DGCA has received sanction for 400 new posts, which will soon be filled through the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
Looking towards the future, Kumar shared that DGCA plans to add 1,000 people by 2030 to strengthen the organisation and meet the increasing demand.
As India’s aviation market continues to be the fastest-growing in the world, with over 1,200 planes recently ordered by various Indian carriers, DGCA’s expansion plans are a timely move to accommodate the surge in air traffic.
DGCA’s role is to ensure that airlines comply with regulatory requirements, conducting surveillance, audits, spot checks, and night surveillance, among other measures. In case of non-compliance, DGCA takes enforcement action against organisations or personnel, which may include warnings, suspension, cancellation, and financial penalties.
