Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Friday, Sep 19, 2003
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Friday, Sep 19, 2003 |
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Disinvestment `SC ruling not to impact airports privatisation' Our Bureau
Mumbai , Sept. 18 THE Supreme Court ruling on the disinvestment of the oil companies has "absolutely no bearing on the privatisation initiative taken for the Mumbai and Delhi airports," according to Mr K. Roy Paul, Secretary, Civil Aviation. He told presspersons here that the privatisation of the two airports would be carried out under the provisions of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) Act. The Act laid down that air traffic control (ATC) and security at airports alone had to be maintained as sovereign functions. The privatisation of the Mumbai and Delhi airports would be time-bound, he said, even as employees of the AAI here went on a week-long relay hunger strike against the privatisation moves. The striking AAI employees have decided to go on mass casual leave on September 26. Discounting the theory that the Mumbai and Delhi airports should not be privatised as they accounted for 70 per cent of the AAI revenues, which was then channelled into developing airports at the smaller centres, he said the concept of cross-subsidisation had lost validity today. Speaking at a seminar on air transport here on Thursday, he said it was the Government's responsibility to develop airports across the country, and it should do so with upfront subsidies wherever necessary. On the privatisation of the Mumbai and Delhi airports, he said a four-member empowered committee set up to oversee the whole process, would not have to go back to the Cabinet for approval on small decisions. The AAI would invite expressions of interest in a couple of months. On the development of an airport at Navi Mumbai, Mr Roy said the issues at stake included ensuring conflict-free operations at the two airports in the city, environmental clearance, and the provision of connectivity and infrastructure at the new site. As for the development of airports at Chakan and Nagpur in the State, he said this would be based on the technical feasibility and investment available for their development.
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