But the strength of the DGCA, which currently regulates all aviation safety-related activities has  gone up only in “a minuscule manner,” Singh says.

“There has been a lot of criticism of DGCA. Partly, the problem is there is a lengthy, cumbersome recruitment process and secondly there is limited delegation of financial powers,” he adds.

Keeping this in view, the CAA will have complete financial autonomy and a separate fund, called the Civil Aviation Authority of India Fund, to finance its expenses including payment of salaries. In addition, the fund will receive federal budgetary assistance.

Aviation experts, however did not seem impressed with the aviation ministry’s latest proposal.

Dhiraj Mathur, executive director and head of the aerospace and defense practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers, referred to it as “old wine in new bottles.”