Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:-

(a)        whether Government proposes to set up a Transportation Safety Board to investigate air accidents and incidents alongwith shipping and highways accidents;

(b)        if so, the details thereof;

(c)        whether his Ministry has sent a proposal in this regard to the Cabinet Secretariat for approvals; and

(d)        if so, to what extent the independent investigation body will be helpful in speedy investigation of such cases?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
(SHRI PRAFUL PATEL)

 (a) to (d): No such proposal is under consideration in the Ministry of Civil Aviation. However,it has been decided to move in the direction of separation of investigation wing from the regulatory wing as recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). DGCA has been requested to prepare a roadmap for the same.

A proposal regarding National Transport Safety Board was received from the Planning Commission for comments. The proposal was for setting up a separate body to serve as the apex transport safety organisation with statutory backing. The Ministry of Civil Aviation provided comments in favour of the proposal.