Government exploring policy contours for "merchant airports"
16 May 2007
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New Delhi: A meeting of industry representatives with civil aviation ministry officials, aimed at giving final shape to a new policy that would promote "merchant greenfield airports," was due to have taken place on Wednesday, according to sources. Such airports would be private airports, built on private lands, within permissible civil aviation parameters and would operate under the air-traffic management regime.
The idea has received a welcome by civil aviation minister, Praful Patel, who has stated that the government would take a "very positive view" of any such initiative. The initiative is dependent on a private party having the required land, and the necessary wherewithal to set up such a project.
The meeting on Wednesday, sources said, was primarily designed to gauge industry interest in the proposal. It would also explore the contours of a possible policy for such projects.
The ministry is exploring new ideas as almost all airport expansion projects have been facing problems over land acquisition.
