The Hindu Business Line : Delhi, Mumbai airports revamp — Govt likely to consider 5-year traffic projections

THE Government's proposed modernisation and restructuring plans for Delhi and Mumbai airport could see infrastructure being created much ahead of airline and passenger demand reaching its peak at the two metro cities.

Official sources told Business Line that the Government is likely to consider passenger traffic growth over a five-year period while finalising the modernisation plans for Delhi and Mumbai airports.

Sources said that the plans for the modernisation of the two metro airports that were being examined by the Government are passenger-traffic driven.

"We would like to create airport facilities in such a manner that they are in a position to cater to traffic growth which is likely to take place in advance. However, every effort would be made to ensure that over capacity is not created at the airports. A final decision on this issue will be taken after consulting with the bidders also," a senior Government official said. Incidentally, both the airports handle a lions' share of cargo and passenger traffic. For the year ended March 31, 2003 alone, the two airports accounted for 49 per cent of passenger traffic 59 per cent of cargo traffic.

Meanwhile, the Government plans to issue the Request for Proposals (RFP) to the nine short-listed bidders by early February and hopes to be in a position to go to the Cabinet in March for approval of the frozen document for the proposed restructuring of the two airports.

The nine entities which have been shortlisted for the modernisation and restructuring programme include Reliance, L&T, DLF group, Bharti and GMR. On the issue of resettlement of people living around Mumbai airport, officials said that the Ministry of Civil Aviation had already written to the Ministry of Urban Development seeking alternative place for resettlement of the people who are likely to be displaced.

"The document which will be provided to the bidders will clearly specify the areas where people are living. The State and Central Government will do their best effort to assist the bidder in resettlement of the displaced people. However, there is unlikely to be any financial help which the Government will provide to the bidder on this account," officials said.

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