New Delhi: 12,564 passenger baggages and articles were found as lost properties from 67 airports, including the international airports in the country last year, of which 4,909 were returned to the flyers. The maximum number of such lost properties was reported from the Chennai airport, where the authorities found 3,386 lugagges/articles during the period between January-December 2014, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma said in a written reply in Lok Sabha. Of these, 857 lost properties were returned to flyers during the period. 02/03/15 PTI/Business Standard

While the ministry wants to call it public private partnership (PPP), the AAEU is very sure it is privatisation of the airports that are being handed over to private parties for operation, management and development for 30 years, with the option of extending it to another 30 years on same terms and conditions.


On Monday, civil aviation minister Mahesh Sharma told Parliament there was no proposal to privatise airports in the country.

“However, based on the recommendations of Task Force on Financing Plan for Airports during 12th Five Year Plan period, set up by erstwhile Planning Commission, the government has initiated the process for undertaking operation, management and development of Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Jaipur airports through Public Private Partnership (PPP),” he told the Lok Sabha.

This was quickly refuted by AAEU’s general secretary Balraj Singh Ahlawat, who believes the manner in which the government was handing over the four airports for development, operations and management, it was as good as privatisation.
03/03/15 Daily News & Analysis