The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has allocated Rs 34.9 billion (Rs 34.9 bn) for the modernisation of air navigation infrastructure, the government informed parliament. The funding is intended to upgrade systems used to manage air traffic nationwide and to support the sole Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) in the country. The announcement came amid concerns over staffing levels in air traffic control.

The government reported that the sanctioned strength for air traffic controllers is 5,537 and that there are 1,279 vacancies among Air Traffic Controllers (ATCOs), as stated in a written response to the Lok Sabha. The minister clarified that deployment of ATCOs is undertaken by AAI in accordance with Directorate General of Civil Aviation civil aviation requirements on Watch Duty Time Limitations and in line with international norms. To date in the current financial year, 4,320 air traffic control (ATC) personnel have been trained at seven operational training centres across the country.

Officials indicated that the AAI allocates staff based on prevailing air traffic volumes at each airport and on the regulatory framework to ensure safe and efficient operations. The modernisation funding is expected to assist in both technological upgrades and capacity management, enabling better distribution of workload across control units. Attention to training capacity and operational standards was highlighted as part of the broader effort to maintain safety.

The ministry underlined that aviation safety is being preserved through optimal utilisation of available manpower in accordance with extant norms and standards and that no key operational units have been shut down owing to manpower shortages. Observers note that India remains one of the world's fastest growing civil aviation markets and that infrastructure and staffing measures will be central to accommodating projected growth. The allocation for air navigation modernisation will form part of those preparations.