|
India has a well-developed and large civil aviation network. There are 122 airports in the country, controlled by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), of which 11 are international airports. The air services of the country were liberalised in 1994 through a move towards an open-skies policy of the government. A number of operators now provide these services in India.
Opportunities
The government is pursuing a policy of enhancing the role of the private sector in improving the efficiency of the airport infrastructure in the country. The proposed privatisation of four of the largest international airports of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata is a key element of this strategy. The government is also seeking private investment in building new airport facilities. Two new airports at Hyderabad and Bangalore are likely to be set up through private participation.
Privatisation in civil aviation
The government is planning to privatise the operation and management of the four international airports at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata to private operators. These airports handle significant amounts of both passenger and cargo traffic. Projections show that traffic is likely to increase steeply at these airports. In the airports sector upto 100 percent FDI is permitted and beyond 74 percent requires Govt. approval. Private sector is allowed to operate scheduled airlines in the domestic sector. Private sector participation is also allowed in airport modernisation, ground services, and aircraft manufacture.
|
Delhi, Mumbai Airport Joint Ventures by March 2005
The Ministry of Civil Aviation is moving along with plans to upgrade and modernise the Delhi and Mumbai airports. Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said on Wednesday 15 December, bids would be invited from the nine short-listed consortia by mid-January, and the selection process will be completed by March 2005.
Work on the two projects will commence by the second quarter of Year 2005; Patel told the Consultative Committee of MPs attached to his ministry. Patel maintained the Rs 20,000 crore (CAD 5.6 bn) would be required for modernising and restructuring these two airports.
In the interim period, the ministry is planning to construct a second parallel runway at IGI airport in Delhi to ease the air traffic rush. Stating that both the Delhi and Mumbai airports have reached a level of saturation because of the increasing volume of traffic. Patel said that the ministry is considering a proposal to have a second runway at Delhi airport as part of the airport expansion
programme.
|
|
|
