AAI to upgrade Kolkata airport, Chennai put on the freezer
20 Apr 2007
The AAI, accordingly, will put up Rs1,542 crore to upgrade the airport which would include construction of a new terminal for domestic and international traffic and building of facilities to handle over 20 million passengers annually, from the current 4.4 million.
Of the likely 20 million passengers, it is estimated that 15 million will be domestic.
Of the Rs1,542 crore, about Rs1,300 crore will be spent by the AAI to build a new terminal. Rs100 crore will be the outgo for upgrading the cargo handling facility as well as improving the runway, while another Rs100 crore would be spent on the upgrade of navigational systems.
According to civil aviation minister Praful Patel, the first phase of modernisation of the Kolkata airport would be completed in the period 2009-10. The decision on setting up of greenfield airports at Navi Mumbai and Pune had not been taken as the State government had yet to submit a final report, he added.
Meanwhile, welcoming the Government's move on Kolkata airport, CPI (M) general secretary, Sitaram Yechury said, "It is a welcome step as the modernisation plan was getting unduly delayed all these months."
The Left has been vehemently opposed to any moves that involved privatising existing airports. It has also opposed privitisation of the Chennai airport due to unavailability of land for expansion. Instead, it has suggested a greenfield project for the city.
Chennai
Meanwhile, the government has deferred its decision on the privatisation of the Chennai airport. Civil aviation minister Praful Patel told reporters, "There is no clarity on land and we will take a final decision in consultation with the state government and go by their approach."
It has been given to understand that the infrastructure committee will meet again on May 31 to take a final call on Chennai.
Patel also said that though work for the Delhi airport was on track, there was some delay in case of Mumbai airport because of some problems associated with the rehabilitation of slum dwellers on the perimeter of the airport.
A group of ministers, headed by Sharad Pawar, is looking into the matter, he added.
