VP Agarwal becomes the new chairman of the Airports Authority of India (AAI). According to a civil aviation ministry official, Agarwal will take the charges of the AAI chairman office from the outgoing chairman K. Ramalingam on January 1, 2009. Earlier, the member (planning) of AAI, V P Agarwal has also offered his service as the executive director of the AAI's northern and northeastern region operations. Apart from it, Agarwal worked in the implementation of India's Gagan satellite-based navigation project to monitor India's skies. The AAI and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) are jointly engaged in developing the Gagan project.

 

The appointment of Agarwal has been approved by the Appointments Committee of the Union Cabinet, claimed official sources. The outgoing AAI chairman, Ramalingam is currently engaged in the Navigation Systems Panel of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, which sets standards and practices for airlines and airports. Besides Agarwal, the electronics and communication engineer, Ramalingam is also associated with the implementation of Gagan project. Both the officers have played a key role in ongoing process of modernisation of airports across the country. After holding the office next month, VP Agarwal will have a fixed tenure of five years.