The civil aviation policy and the fleet acquisition plan for both Air-India and Indian Airlines are expected to be completed within the next couple of months.

"The ministry has already received views and comments on the policy ever since it has been placed on the website for discussions. We intend to freeze the policy now and set up a task force to present its report in one month," Union Civil Aviation Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy told reporters in Mumbai on Saturday.

He said the policy would be to ensure level playing field for all, including the private sector players.

Asked whether the government would spell out foreign sector participation in the policy, Rudy said, "I will not like to comment at this stage. I will only endeavour that the policy, which has been in the making for quite some time, will see the light of the day," he added.

"My priorities will be to increase the capacity of Indian Airlines and Air-India and make them competitive, privatise, modernise and develop Delhi and Mumbai airports as world class hubs and speed up the reform process in the aviation sector," he added.

He said the National Council for Applied Economic Research has been commissioned to provide an outlook on the domestic aviation sector, including the issue of "affordability of fares."

Rudy said the issue of the high tax on aviation turbine fuel has also been taken up with the finance ministry as well as with the state governments so that "fares can be affordable."

The minister, who was here in connection with the meeting of the parliamentary consultative committee attached to the civil aviation ministry, also inaugurated Air-India's international call centre to attend to the customers in the United States and the United Kingdom.

The 24-hour centre would offer a wide range of services, including reservations, and is aimed at improving customer care and ensure speedier handling of calls with minimal waiting time.

According to an A-I official, the centre would be expanded by December once the airline introduces new services.