GAGAN: Indigenous satellite navigation system set to roll
Hyderabad: India is all set to build its own version of a satellite-based regional GPS Augmentation System, consisting of a cluster of satellites, which will make it a major hub in air navigation and other important services. The programme is called GAGAN (GPS and GEO Augmented Navigation).

The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation has decided to implement the project with active support from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The indigenous system, better known as Space-Based Augmentation System (SBAS), would be part of the satellite-based communications, navigation and surveillances/Air Traffic Management plan for civil aviation, according to the latest Parliamentary Standing Committee report on the Department of Space.

The national plan for satellite navigation has been jointly prepared by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and ISRO. The plan includes the implementation of a Technology Demonstration System (TDS) over the Indian airspace as proof of concept.

The Indian SBAS or GAGAN would be implemented in three phases - the TDS, initial experimental phase and final operational phase.

The major objective is to bridge the gap between the European EGNOS (European Geo Stationary Navigation Overlay System) and the Japanese MSAS (MTSAT Space Augmentation System), which would help provide seamless navigation of aircraft from West to East and vice-versa.

When implemented, the Indian GAGAN will play an important role in the introduction of satellite-based navigation services in the Asia Pacific region.

The first major milestone in the programme is slated to be the launch of the first navigation payload (now under fabrication) on the GSAT-4 satellite, which is expected to be launched during 2006-07, the report said.

The Parliamentary Committee observed that India was well placed at the axis of routes connecting Europe with Southeast Asia and by having an indigenous satellite-based regional GPS augmentation system, it could gain both in terms of market and strategic importance.

ISRO's Satellite Application Centre (SAC), Bangalore officials said that the Indian regional navigation satellite system concept has already been cleared by the Space Commission and was ready to be translated into a project. The idea is to build a low-cost satellite navigation system, which would have seven geostationary satellites, always visible and covering the region, he said.

Currently, the EU is working on the euro 3.2-billion project Galileo, while Russia is pursuing GLONASS, both based on a constellation of satellites.
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Economic agreement with Singapore likely by this month
New Delhi: The Government has said that the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement with Singapore is likely to be concluded by this month.

In his written reply to the Lok Sabha, the Minister of State for Commerce and Industry E V K S Elangovan said that while all major issues in trade in goods with Singapore have been settled, there were still a few outstanding issues in investment, services, financial services, telecom and Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement which needed to be resolved.

"The agreement is likely to be concluded by the end of May, 2005," he said.
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Cenatur Hotel: Govt. to indicate course of action soon
New Delhi: Finance Minister P Chidambaram informed the Rajya Sabha that the government would indicate as soon as possible what action it proposes to take on CAG findings pointing certain lapses by the NDA government on the disinvestments of Centaur Hotels.

"We are considering the report and I will as soon as possible indicate what we will do," Chidambaram said. He was responding to CPI(M) and Congress members who wanted to know what action was being taken on the CAG findings as the Finance Minister had assured the House as early as August last year that he would consider taking action after receiving the CAG findings.

Chidambaram's response came a day after Left parties have given an ultimatum that the government should institute a CBI inquiry into the disinvestment of Centaur Hotels at Juhu and Mumbai Airport within 24 hours.
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