Dr. Mahesh Sharma assumed the charge as Minister of State for Civil Aviation here today. A Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from Gautam Budh Nagar constituency UP, Dr. Sharma is also a member of Standing Committee on Health & Family Welfare and Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Urban Development. He is the National Convener of Medical Cell (BJP) and Chairman of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Standing Committee for Public Relations. Addressing the media on the occasion, Dr. Mahesh Sharma said “growth in international tourism and a further boost to the image of `credible India’ are the top priority areas which require our immediate attention to achieve newer heights”. He stressed upon the need to interlink tourism with civil aviation and connectivity from airports to tourist sites. He said that Delhi, with a population of over one crore seventyeight lakh people, has already been overstressed and, therefore, an international airport at Greater Noida is `the need of the hour’ to promote more economic activities and generate employment. Later, the Minister was briefed by top officials on different issues related to the Ministry.