Independent status for Greenfield airports

NEW DELHI: Greenfield airports under construction at Hyderabad and Bangalore and the one already built in Kochi with majority private participation will have independent status except for air traffic control and security under a legislation cleared by the Union Cabinet on Tuesday.
An official spokesman said the cabinet approved introduction of a comprehensive amendment to Airport Authority of India Act 1994 and withdrawal of AAI amendment bill 2000 which is pending in Lok Sabha.
The amendment will also empower AAI to effectively deal with encroachments in Airport premises. The spokesman said that the comprehensive amendment would facilitate implementation of a financial package proposed for Greenfield airports as announced in the 2002-03 budget.