Merchant airport policy takes shape

New Delhi: The civil aviation ministry has convened a meeting of industry representatives on Wednesday as precursor to giving final shape to a policy to promote "merchant greenfield airports".
Merchant greenfield airports will be private airports built on private lands within permissible civil aviation parameters and air-traffic management regime.
Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel has already said the government has taken a "very positive view" of the idea. "If somebody is willing to take the risk, has the land and is willing to build airports, we are going to look at it in a very positive manner," sources who did not wish to be identified said.
The meeting on Wednesday, sources said, was primarily designed to gauge the interest within industry about the idea. It is also expected to discuss possible contours of a policy on merchant airports.
The ministry has also stressed the need to "revisit" the policy on airports as almost every airport expansion project is facing problems over land acquisition.
Patel told Parliament recently that "work on building a new airport should proceed parallel to the modernisation project at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi".
"Just like airlines, airports should also be made to compete with each other and then benefits will flow to the passengers,'' he said.
15/05/07 Gaurav Choudhury/Hindustan Times

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Categories: Airports May 2007, General Aviation May 2007, New May 2007