Singapore, Paris firms keen on state airports

Chennai/ Bangalore : Singapore-based Changi Airport Group and France’s Airport de Paris are understood to have evinced interest in jointly developing airports in Tier-II cities in Karnataka.
Karnataka government is embarking on a public-private-partnership (PPP) model to develop airports in Bijapur, Shimoga, Bellary, Bidar, Karwar, Raichur, Hassan and Gulbarga districts. The Karnataka government is planning to develop aviation infrastructure across the state by involving Airports Authority of India, the state government and private sector.
Senior state government officials indicated that officials from Changi Airport and Airport de Paris are among the global players who have shown interest in some of the airports being planned in Karnataka.
The state government has notified Bijapur, Hassan, Shimoga and Gulbarga for development and has identified private players to develop the project, while there is interest from private sector for Bellary airport as well.
Changi Airport Group’s international arm, Changi Airports International (CAI), recently took a 26 per cent stake in Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd (BAPL). The project signifies CAI’s first investment in an Indian greenfield airport city project.
The Durgapur Aerotropolis involves the setting up of an industrial park, a logistics hub, an information technology park and a township around the privately-owned greenfield airport. BAPL has already entered into a Joint Venture Development Agreement with West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation, the West Bengal state government nodal agency, for facilitating the implementation of the project.
While the Karnataka government is upbeat on these plans, industry players observe that these airports may have to struggle in getting airlines to operate to these districts.
06/10/09 Raghuvir Badrinath/Business Standard

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Categories: Airports Oct 2009, Foreign Oct 2009, New Oct 2009