'Kolkata, Chennai airports' upgrade delayed by Plan Com'

NEW DELHI: Civil Aviation Ministry on Tuesday held "constant objections" raised by Planning Commission responsible for the delay in modernisation of Kolkata and Chennai airports.

In a strongly worded letter addressed to Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Civil Aviation Minster Praful Patel said "...the modernisation of Kolkata and Chennai airports is being delayed due to constant objections being raised by Planning Commission about the scale and size of these airports."

"This despite the fact that the Committee on Infrastructure, headed by the Prime Minister, has categorically approved the projects," he said.

Incidentally, the Praful missive comes a day after a review meeting on the modernisation of Delhi airport, held by Ahluwalia, who was unhappy at delays passengers face at the international airport in the national capital.

The government's plans were keeping in view the needs of the country "a good 10-20 years down the line and not to repeat the past mistakes at the time of construction of the current IGI Airports' International Terminal -- plans then approved by the Planning Commission and our Ministry."

Patel's letter came in the wake of reports "about your (Ahluwalia's) private visit to Delhi Airport, which resulted in inconvenience caused to you and your personal guests and your anguish over the slow pace of progress in the modernisation and development work," the letter said.