IMG constituted to examine potential of GAGAN in Non-Aviation Sectors

The Union Civil Aviation Ministry on 7 July 2014 constituted an Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) to examine the maximum potential of the GPS Aided Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) system. The IMG will be headed by Ashok Lavasa, the Secretary of Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Tasks of the Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG)
• The Group will examine the potential of sector-specific utilisation of GAGAN system for its use in non-aviation sectors
• Develop appropriate work programmes using GAGAN signals that can benefit diversified users

With GANAN, India would become the fourth nation after the US, Europe and Japan to use the satellite-based navigation system.

About GPS Aided Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) system
• GAGAN is a satellite based augmentation system of India
• It has been developed jointly by Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
• It has been developed at an estimated cost of 774 crore rupees for enhanced Air Navigation Services across the country
• GAGAN system offers free enhanced satellite navigation signals over India and these signals are ten times more precise than GPS

Benefits of GAGAN
• GAGAN as a system can offer civilian users’ integrity as it is capable of automatically alert about the error made by the system.
• It will play an important role in safety of life applications in transport, sensitive commercial applications and liability-critical applications needing legal course.
• It will generate substantial fund for India in future because GAGAN can be leased by India to neighbouring countries to manage their air traffic as well as overflights.
• It will enable transition of the air traffic management system to satellite-based seamless navigation across continents covering the airspace from Australia to Africa as well as west Asia to China and Russia.