India To Modernize 35 Airports

The Indian cabinet approved a proposal mandating the state-run airport operator to modernize 35 airports in second-tier cities within the next two years, the civil aviation minister said on Thursday.
The modernization process will cost the government between 70-80 billion rupees (USD$1.5 billion - USD$1.75 billion), Praful Patel told reporters after a cabinet meeting.
A decision to privatize Delhi and Mumbai airports earlier this year sparked mass strikes by airport workers who feared job cuts and who were supported by the ruling coalition's powerful communist allies.
"The development of 35 non-metro airports will be done by Airport Authority of India. Work will start within one year and will be completed by 2008/09," Patel said.
He said no final decision had been taken on modernizing or privatizing airports in two other major air hubs, Chennai and Kolkata.
08/06/06 Reuters/Airwise

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