Dabolim expansion on fast track

New Delhi: After receiving the Mini-Ratna status as a Public Sector Unit (PSU) and restructuring its board, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has put all non-metro airport development projects in the country on the fast track. A report in the Financial Chronicle says the very first project to be put on fast track will be the proposed Rs 340-crore Goa Dabolim Airport expansion.
AAI had sent the proposal for Cabinet approval, but it will now withdraw all projects from the respective authorities as with the Mini-Ratna status, which was awarded in December 2008, it does not need a Cabinet nod for the project. “The AAI board can now approve projects up to Rs 500 crore on its own. Therefore, we can withdraw the Goa project from the Cabinet and go ahead on our own”, stated a senior AAI official.
AAI is also looking for quick approval of its proposed Rs 650-cr greenfield airport in Itanagar, in the North East, which has been sent for the Government nod. AAI proposes to spend Rs 12,434.34 cr during the 11th Five Year Plan for airport infrastructure. Of this, Rs 6,443.53 cr will be for non-metro airports, and Rs 5,990.81 cr is for metro and other private / greenfield airports.
03/02/09 Herald

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Airports Feb 2009