Financially troubled state owned carrier Air India is pitching for central assistance from the government in a bid to ease its debt burden. The government carrier has also employed various cost cutting measures which are however yet to show any positive result.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said that he wrote the government for releasing funds worth 2,000 crore in equity for saving the ailing airline. He hoped that government will soon release funds for the carrier, roiled by losses, a cash crunch, and controversies over appointments.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the inauguration of seaplane 'Jal Hans' operations to Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal, Patel added, "We have asked the Government for further infusion of equity worth `2,000 crore in the coming Budget for financial year 2011-2012."

Senior executive of AI-Mr. Sukumar, the former chief training officer at German airline Deutsche Lufthansa AG whose appointment, ironically, has also been controversial said that efforts are being made to bring back the "Maharaja" glory of the once legendary Air India.