Funds no problem for Kolkata airport revamp

According to a rough estimate, the modernisation of Kolkata airport would cost Rs 3,000 crore.

Funds are not a problem for the modernisation of the airport in Kolkata by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), Civil Aviation Secretary Ajay Prasad said on Tuesday.

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"AAI has sufficent funds to finance the modernisation of Kolkata airport (NSC Bose International Airport)," he said.

According to a rough estimate, the modernisation would cost Rs 3,000 crore, Prasad told reporters on the sidelines of a CII seminar.

The government has carried out a credit rating for AAI, which will faciliate the raising of resources from the open market.

By October, it will be decided whether Kolkata airport will be modernised by AAI or private firms. AAI has been asked to draw up a modernisation plan for the domestic and international terminals of the airport in Kolkata.

Speaking about the need for a second airport in Kolkata, Prasad said, "We are not opposed to the idea, but before that we want to utilise the Kolkata airport to its optimum capacity."

Industry Minister Nirupam Sen on Tuesday said a feasibility study has been been carried out and it would soon be decided whether the second airport would be viable.

AAI will spend Rs 4,000 crore to modernise 35 non-metro airports across the country.