New Hyderabad international airport: The inaugural & after

Suspense continues behind the sudden decision of the Government not to operationalise the new Hyderabad airport despite its inauguration on March 14.While there is no official word on the reasons for the delay, sources suggest that it was mainly on account of the protest from airline operators against the high user charges that the promoters of the new airport are demanding in the form of ground handling charges.
Ms Sonia Gandhi is understood to have conveyed to the Civil Aviation Ministry a day before the event that she would not inaugurate the airport if the strike by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) employees continued. With the strike off, grounds were cleared for the inauguration the next day.
Three years ago on March 16, 2005, Ms Gandhi had laid the foundation stone for the new airport and the Government was keen to go ahead with its inauguration to showcase a major infrastructure facility had been created in record 36 months.
Inauguration over, the Government restrained the promoters from operationalising the new airport from March 16. Among other things, this ensured that there was no confrontation with the Left parties during the on-going Parliament session.
Aviation industry sources say the Government could utilise the delay to “convince” the promoters to take a re-look at the charges.
19/03/08 Ashwini Phadnis/Business Line

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Categories: Airports Mar 2008, New Mar 2008