Airport update plan faces hurdles

New Delhi: While the Airports Authority of India faces impediments in upgradation of 35 airports in non-metro cities, the civil aviation secretary, Mr Ashok Chawla, today stated that the project currently underway will be completed by mid-2010.
Speaking at a seminar, Mr Chawla said, AAI has finalised air-side plans for 24 of them which will be through public private partnerships. “Efforts will be made to maximise non-aeronautical revenues,” he said. Space has been a major constraint for some non-metro airports, for which the AAI has written to state governments to provide land for expansion, modernisation and development.
However, some states are not very keen to acquire land adjoining non-metro airports, as these places have been encroached upon by people. Also, real estate prices at these places have shot up, making it impossible for the governments to reclaim it.
The Committee on Infrastructure constituted by the Prime Minister in June last year had approved modernisation, expansion and development of all the 35 non-metro airports by the AAI to a “world-class” standards at an estimated cost of Rs 4662 crore.
25/07/07 The Statesman

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Categories: Airports Jul 2007