File photo of Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu | Photo Credit: SHAILENDRA BHOJAK
As millions of passengers take to the skies and India prepares for an unprecedented expansion of aviation, air traffic controllers (ATC) remain invisible professionals and the growing demand for these professionals is coming into sharper focus as India’s aviation sector develops, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said on Tuesday.
Naidu addressed (virtually) air traffic controllers (ATC) in Chennai on the occasion of International Air Traffic Controllers Day.
The country recorded its highest monthly domestic passenger traffic in May 2026, with over 1.5 crore passengers in a month, the minister said. Every day, India handles over 5,000 domestic and over 1,000 international air traffic movements, he added.
“India’s ambition to increase passenger traffic from 24 crore to 130 crore by 2047 will give greater responsibility to those who manage the skies,” he said, emphasizing the responsibility of ATC.
With air traffic expected to grow significantly, modernization of air navigation infrastructure is becoming increasingly important. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has earmarked ₹3,490 crore for infrastructure modernization, including ₹1,532 crore for automation of the air traffic management system.
However, technology alone cannot guarantee security. Technology can help, but judgment, composure and responsibility are always human, he said.
Recognizing the pressure, Naidu said the government was committed to the welfare of air traffic controllers. As part of efforts to strengthen the workforce, 840 additional controller posts have been made in the new year, he said.
In addition to investment in infrastructure and manpower, better airspace management also helps improve operational efficiency and reduce aviation’s environmental footprint.
The flexible use of airspace has generated an estimated ₹895 crore and helped reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 1.95 lakh tonnes from August 2020, the minister said. .
Published on October 20, 2026