The Hindu Business Line : House panel for greenfield airports in Mumbai, Delhi

IN a move that could affect the on going modernisation and restructuring of Mumbai and Delhi airports, a Parliamentary Committee today expressed the view that investing "huge money" for modernisation of Mumbai airport would be a waste and recommended the construction of a greenfield airport with more capacity which would require much less investment.

"The Committee is of the opinion that there are certain inherent technological constraints while restructuring an existing structure, particularly in Mumbai airport and the option of going in for a new greenfield airport rather than proposed modernisation of Mumbai airport was more prudent," the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture Committee has said.

The Committee report, which was tabled in Parliament today, has also recommended that the Government explore the possibility of having a greenfield airport in Delhi.

The Committee's report states that some investment towards augmenting capacity will have to be made to address the immediate exigencies of the situation till such time as a greenfield airport can come up in Mumbai.

The Committee has also expressed the opinion that given the growth of the aviation sector, the existing infrastructure in Delhi airport also possesses inherent lacuna and is inadequate to handle the projected future growth.

It has therefore recommended that the Government explore the possibility of having a greenfield airport in the national capital also.

The report adds that it was "constrained" to note that the proposals regarding the modernisation and restructuring of Delhi and Mumbai has been lingering for a "fairly long period" and the Government has not been able to come up with any concrete plan for it.

"The Government has been quoting different figures of cost estimates at different stages. While the initial figure of Rs 10,000 crore to Rs 20,000 crore, stated by the Secretary, was too inflated it also gave the impression that the money was required immediately, while it was actually required in phases spread over 15-20 years," the report points out.

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