Airport cargo contract kicks up a controversy

Chennai: The Airports Authority of India has decided to hand over air cargo operations of the Chennai International Airport to a private agency, Bhadra International, reportedly headed by ex-AAI officials.
Many airport officials are questioning the logic behind the move especially in the context of the recent modernisation of the air cargo hub and the robust cargo-handling in the previous months.
“We suspect a huge scam behind this move which is happening when a major modernisation project at Chennai air cargo at a cost of `145 crores is nearing completion,” said a senior airport official. “We have in fact achieved a 15 percent growth in import and 35 percent growth in export of cargo consignments in the last ten months.”
He added that the former executive director (commercial), Mr R.V. Narayanan, who approved a contract for the private agency is heading Bhadra International as its vice-president after his retirement.
Protesting the move, a group of employees gheraoed the AAI senior executive officer, Mr S, Basu, and Mr Narayanan at the AAI office in Chennai on Wednesday, immediately after they came out from a top level meeting with the airport director.
11/12/10 Deccan Chronicle

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Categories: Airports Dec 2010, Cargo Dec 2010