NEW DELHI: Newly inducted civil aviation minister
Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu
took charge of his ministry on Thursday and said that bringing down airfare and improving infrastructure will be his top priorities.
The 36-year-old TDP MP from Andhra’s Srikakulam Lok Sabha constituency is the youngest-ever minister in Modi Cabinet 3.0.
Before signing a document to officially take over as the minster, Naidu took a blank piece of paper and wrote ‘Om Shree Ram’ on the page 21 times.
Reportedly, this was done on the advise of his mother.
After taking over as the civil aviation minister, Naidu said he will be looking at ways to bring down airfare.
I will hold review meeting: Rammohan Naidu on airfares
“It is an important issue striking me since the time I have been announced as civil aviation minister. Wherever I go, people have been mentioning that the prices have somehow increased over the last few years, especially after Covid,” Naidu told PTI.
“I need a thorough understanding of the issue, so, I am going to sit with the stakeholders. I am going to hold review meetings. Definitely, my intention would be to bring down the (ticket) prices because that is a challenge for the common man. Our intention is to take
air travel
to the common man, unless you make it
affordable
, it is not going to happen,” said the minister.
On aviation infrastructure development in the country, Kinjarapu told ANI: “We want India to lead in aviation infrastructure development. Under the leadership of PM Modi, we will give civil aviation the top priority and a big push. Being the youngest member of the Cabinet, I have been given this responsibility, and I have a lot to prove here.”
Naidu said that the portfolio has huge scope and potential, adding that he was given huge responsibility.
“PM Modi has entrusted me with a very big responsibility…The portfolio has huge scope and potential…The pride of India at the international level is connected with the portfolio. PM Modi gave us a direction to work in the ministry. We will ensure that the progress continues,” Naidu told ANI.
The son of senior TDP leader and former Union minister Yerran Naidu, Rammohan Naidu has been representing Srikakulam since 2014. He broke his father’s record by becoming the youngest Cabinet Minister in the NDA coalition, continuing a legacy. His father, Yerran Naidu, was the youngest Minister in 1996 at the age of 39.
