The Hindu Business Line : Easier norms for metro airports revamp likely

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The Government may allow interested parties, including those already participating in the development of Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad airports, to bid for Chennai and Kolkata airports too.
While deciding on the joint venture partners for modernising Delhi and Mumbai airports there was a restriction on each airport being taken by a different private sector party as it could have led to a monopoly situation.

New Delhi , March 25

For the proposed modernisation of Chennai and Kolkata airports, the Government is planning to drop the restricting clause, as was the case of Delhi and Mumbai, that a company could take up only one airport for development.

Consequently, it may allow interested parties, including those already participating in the development of Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad airports, to bid for Chennai and Kolkata airports too.

"We will soon invite bids for modernising the two airports. Whichever party is successful will be awarded the contract. While deciding on the joint venture partners for modernising Delhi and Mumbai airports, we had to put restriction on each airport being taken by a different private sector party as it could have led to a monopoly situation. However, in the remaining airports coming up in the six metro cities, one private sector party will be allowed to develop more than one airport if they are successful in winning the bid," a senior Government official said.

The Government has selected a consortium led by the GMR group for developing Delhi airport, while a consortium led by the GVK group is to modernise the airport in Mumbai. Similarly, a consortium led by Siemens has already started work on the new greenfield airport in Bangalore. The restructuring process for the Kolkata and Chennai airports will start soon after the assembly elections in the two states are completed, said officials. The Tamil Nadu Government recently agreed to provide several thousands of acres of land free of encumbrances for the airport project to start.

The Centre's intention to proceed with the modernisation of the airports was spelt out in the Economic Survey 2005-06 that states an in-principle decision has been taken to modernise Chennai airport through the joint venture route.

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