The Hindu Business Line : Tenders to develop city-side of 10 non-metro airports in 2 months

While the airside and terminal building development would be done by AAI, the investments for commercial development of land would come from the private sector.

New Delhi, March 9

The airports at 35 non-metro cities including those at Tiruchi, Kozhikode, Tirupati and Hubli could soon not only get modern terminal buildings, but also world-class hotels and restaurants around the airport.

This will become possible largely on account of the Government indicating on Friday that it would issue tenders inviting the private sector to participate in the city-side development of 10 non-metro airports within the next two-months.

"We should come up with the proposals in the next 45-60 days. The interested parties can respond to these. Even as these proposals are put out, the Airports Authority of India is taking a number of steps to improve the facilities in secondary airports," the Civil Aviation Secretary, Mr Ashok Chawla, said.

Mr Chawla was speaking at a seminar on `India aviation forum 2007: Sustain and fly high', that had been organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry.

The 10 airports, for which tenders are to be issued within the next two months, form part of the Government plan to develop 35 non-metro airports in a time bound manner.

While the airside and terminal building development at these 35 airports would be done by AAI, the investments for commercial development of land would come from the private sector.

Sources indicated that the non-aeronautical activities that are likely to be allowed at these airports include putting up of hotels, restaurants, parking lots, cargo-handling facilities and other tourism-related activities.

The 35 non-metro cities where the airports are to get a facelift include Nagpur, Thiruvananthapuram, Vishakhapatnam, Vadodara and Amritsar.

Award of Contracts

The Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Praful Patel, has already indicated that the Government will complete the process of award of contracts for all 35 non-metro airports by 2010.

Asked whether the Government planned to have a model concession agreement for private sector development of airports, the Secretary said that a cell in the Planning Commission was working on developing such a framework.

More Stories on : Infrastructure | Airlines

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
GMR ties up bank funds for airport

Tenders to develop city-side of 10 non-metro airports in 2 months

ANL returns to Europe, linking Chennai

Numero uno

GlobalLogic in strategic alliance with Kewill

Air India to cut cabin crew; save Rs 50 cr annually

New Mangalore Safety Day

Moving cars: Pipavav Rail conducts trials with special containers

Ircon may lease, maintain locos for Thailand rlys

RITES to tap export potential