25 project reports recieved for airports upgradation
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has already received 25 project reports for upgradation of the 35 non-metro airports.
By TNN |
KOLKATA: The Ministry of Civil Aviation has already received 25 project reports for up gradation of the 35 non-metro airports. The remaining 10 reports are due by end-September, after which the Ministry will be inviting EOIs (expressions of interest) from private players interested in working with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in this regard.
“Only the city side of the airports would be taken up by the private sector for commercial development like hotels, food courts or parking. The infrastructure side would be handled by AAI,” said Mr Ajay Prasad, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, speaking to reporters at a meeting at the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BNCCI).
Work had already begun in places like Srinagar, Dibrugarh, Udaipur and Vishakhapatnam, said Mr Prasad.
The estimated outlay for the upgradation of the 35 airports is expected to be in the region of Rs 4,000 crore. “AAI is a surplus generating company with considerable cash reserves. Now with CRISIL having accorded it an AAA rating, we will be raising the balance amount from the debt market,” said Mr Prasad.
The acquisition plans of Air India and Indian Airlines which have ordered 68 and 43 aircraft from Boeing and Airbus respectively have now been finalised. “We expect the deliveries to start from March 2007 with the process getting completed by 2011-12,” said Mr Prasad.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has also given clearance for the proposed greenfield airport in Navi Mumbai subject to certain conditions being met. “We are seeing whether we can meet them,” said Mr Prasad, adding that the land requirement would be in the region of 2500-3000 acres. Construction work at the greenfield airports of Bangalore and Hyderabad has already started.
“We also have plans to increase the parking base at Bagdogra as well as carry out upgradation in Coochbehar. There is also a demand to improve more airstrips in the state which we can take up if more airlines show a commitment to operate in the region. For Kolkata, our efforts are to encourage greater international connectivity,” said Mr Prasad.
“Only the city side of the airports would be taken up by the private sector for commercial development like hotels, food courts or parking. The infrastructure side would be handled by AAI,” said Mr Ajay Prasad, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, speaking to reporters at a meeting at the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BNCCI).
Work had already begun in places like Srinagar, Dibrugarh, Udaipur and Vishakhapatnam, said Mr Prasad.
The estimated outlay for the upgradation of the 35 airports is expected to be in the region of Rs 4,000 crore. “AAI is a surplus generating company with considerable cash reserves. Now with CRISIL having accorded it an AAA rating, we will be raising the balance amount from the debt market,” said Mr Prasad.
The acquisition plans of Air India and Indian Airlines which have ordered 68 and 43 aircraft from Boeing and Airbus respectively have now been finalised. “We expect the deliveries to start from March 2007 with the process getting completed by 2011-12,” said Mr Prasad.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has also given clearance for the proposed greenfield airport in Navi Mumbai subject to certain conditions being met. “We are seeing whether we can meet them,” said Mr Prasad, adding that the land requirement would be in the region of 2500-3000 acres. Construction work at the greenfield airports of Bangalore and Hyderabad has already started.
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On the issue of modernisation of the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Mr Prasad said that they were in discussions with the state government to work out the modalities and the final decision was expected by end-October. Incidentally, the West Bengal government has been insistent on the modernisation being carried out by AAI, and been firm on ruling out private sector participation. “We also have plans to increase the parking base at Bagdogra as well as carry out upgradation in Coochbehar. There is also a demand to improve more airstrips in the state which we can take up if more airlines show a commitment to operate in the region. For Kolkata, our efforts are to encourage greater international connectivity,” said Mr Prasad.
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