Under utilised airstrips/airports could yield Rs20,000-cr in investments: Assocham

New Delhi: Through an interesting calculation, industry body Assocham has pointed out to the central government that it could attract huge private investment just by leasing out the country's under-utilized airstrips and airports to private players. The calculation has an immediate bearing on moves initiated by the government only this week to explore the possibility of setting up "merchant airports" in the country.

According to Assocham's estimates, private developers could turn disused or under-utilised airports and airstrips into merchant airports, which on an average could individually fetch revenues of Rs100 crore for the government. The chamber points out that if the government leased out 200 of 450 such airstrips and airports to private airport developers for a period of 66 years, it could easily raise Rs20,000 crore by way of private investment.

Assocham points out further that merchant airports could cater to civil aviation requirement on feeder routes very efficiently, saving the economy a loss of at least Rs2 lakh crore per annum.

The chamber has also suggested that the government could set up a single window clearance system for approvals from regularity agencies for such projects.