Government gives approval to Airports Authority of India to lease land to navy, coast guard

NEW DELHI: The government today granted its approval to the Airports Authority of India (AAI)'s proposal to lease some of its land spread over four airports, including the one at Porbandar in Gujarat, to the navy and the coast guard for various projects.

A meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the leasing of AAI's land to the Indian Coast Guard/Indian Navy ( Ministry of Defence) at various airports, an official release said here.

The leasing of the requisite land at proposed airports will facilitate the coast guard/navy to establish various facilities for better surveillance of coast line, it said.

The Cabinet has given its approval to lease 4.62 acres of AAI land to the navy and another 7,326 sqm of land to the coast guard at the Porbandar Airport.

It also accorded its approval to lease 6,200 sqm of AAI land at Juhu Airport to the coast guard for two hangars with apron and a link taxi track.

Besides, the government also granted its approval to lease five acres of AAI land at Visakhapatnam Airport to the coast guard, the release said, adding 0.9 acres of its land has also been allowed to be leased to the coast guard to construct taxi track at Tuticorin Airport.

"Owing to the illegal/terrorist activities via/along the Indian Coast Line, the ICG is developing, establishing various facilities along the coastal line to keep a watch with a view to stop such activities," it said.

To facilitate ICG for establishing various facilities for surveillance of coast line, the land (allowed) at these airports is necessary to be transferred to the coast guard as demanded by them, it said.

Further, it can accrue some revenue for unutilized land of AAI, it added.