Date:08/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/08/stories/2007060801661400.htm

National

Leeds varsity honours Praful Patel

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Leeds Metropolitan University of the United Kingdom on Thursday conferred an honorary doctorate on Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel recognising his contribution to modernisation of India's civil aviation industry.

Accepting the degree, he said it was a "recognition of the progress of civil aviation.'' The past three years redefined civil aviation in India, where air travel was originally meant for a few.

There was an unprecedented growth of over 50 per cent in domestic passenger traffic last year.

Now domestic services were available to and from more than 75 airports as against 50 six years ago, an official release said here quoting Mr. Patel.