The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport has opposed the Centre’s decision to privatise six airports, including the recently modernised Chennai and Kolkata airports, this year.
It has instead advocated for long-term management contracts with private players for operating the airports, Sitaram Yechury, Rajya Sabha MP and Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, said.
According to him, a report was adopted by the Committee on Thursday and would be submitted to the Rajya Sabha Chairman in a week’s time.
“I can tell you that we (Parliamentary Committee) are totally against privatisation and allowing transfer of assets to private entities,” Yechury told reporters after inaugurating a Trans Bharat Aviation’s flying training institute here.
“It makes neither economic sense nor common sense. Why do you want to handover public property for private profit making,” he questioned.
Giving the example of GMR-managed Delhi airport, where levy is being charged for both arrival and departure, he said: “We have seen how privatising public property becomes expensive. Delhi airport is the most expensive airport in the whole world (now).”
Yechury also welcomed both Tamil Nadu and West Bengal Governments’ decision to oppose privatisation of Chennai and Kolkata airports.
The Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport is hopeful that the report will push the Centre to roll back the decision.
“If they don’t roll it back, they have to submit an ‘action taken report’ on why they are not accepting our proposals, to Parliament,” he said.