AAI to manage 35 non-metro airports: Patel

New Delhi: Heeding to the demands of Left parties and trade unions, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel has made it clear that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) would continue to manage the 35 non-metro airports which have been shortlisted for upgradation and modernisation.
Describing as "absolutely misleading" reports that AAI would not take the lead role and go for private sector participation in these airports, he said in an interview that the 35 airports "will be modernised with AAI playing the lead role".
"There will be a joint venture in each of these 35 airports for non-aeronautical development that means development of retail, hotels, car parks etc. The Airports Authority will run these airports", Patel was quoted as saying.
He said all these airports were being designed by global competition and not in-house.
22/04/06 Times of India

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline