The Hindu Business Line : Govt asked to review Delhi, Mumbai airports modernisation plan

THE Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture has asked the Government to take a re-look at the modernisation process of Delhi and Mumbai airports so that the development and maintenance of other airports is not compromised.

The committee's latest report tabled in Parliament on Friday noted that a "major chunk" of the profit is generated from the two metro airports that are used to fulfil the developmental needs as well as look after the day-to-day activities of other airports.

"The committee fails to understand how the Government would fulfil the developmental needs of other airports after the management of these two airports is passed on to the joint venture companies. The sustained existence of such other airports would become difficult in such a scenario," the report states.

The proposed modernisation of the two airports is already underway with the Government receiving expression of interest from nine entities including Reliance, GMR, L&T among others.

Further the committee said that it was "constrained" to note that though the decision to modernise the two metro airports was initiated in 2000, the Government had not been able to come out with any concrete plans.

"The committee also regrets to note that the Ministry has not considered the alternative proposal submitted by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) Employees Joint Forum on the modernisation of the two metro airports," the report said.

The committee has expressed "surprise" on why the Government had not updated the proposal submitted by AAI in 2000 to bring about modernisation and "feels" that the proposal should be "implemented".

The committee has said that it was not convinced with the replies provided by the Ministry of Civil Aviation on modernisation of the two airports. "The committee is of the opinion that modernisation is not merely about the provision of facilities and expansion of the terminal buildings of the airports. It should also increase the capacity of the airports to handle more flights, by construction of additional runways, which does not seem to be a probability at the Mumbai airport."

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