Low cost airports have several advantages, such as uncongested and free from ground and air traffic operations. In addition, air travellers will not have to shell out the hefty fees charged by airports in metros
In November, last year, a Parliamentary Committee, headed by Sitaram Yechury recommended that the Airport Authority of India (AAI) be asked to manage all the airports rather than giving away any for private ownership. In fact, Yechury is reported to have said, the move to privatise seems to be a case of "privatisation of profits and nationalisation of losses"! This report came out at a time when the process of privatisation of Chennai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Guwahati was under way.
Yechury felt that the AAI was being made to run all loss making airports while the metro airports that earn profits were in private hands! He reiterated that AAI be asked to manage all airports, rather than giving them away to private management.
Since the election is around the corner, there appears to be some activity, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, where the AAI has signed a memorandum of undertaking (MOU) with the state government for developing several airports, including Meerut, Moradabad and Faizabad.
Read news in full 05/03/14 Moneylife
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