Govt pushes AAI to recover Rs 77-cr dues

Continuing with his no-nonsense policy, aviation minister Ajit Singh has directed the state-owned Airports Authority of India (AAI) to recover the outstanding dues of Rs 77 crore from an advertising agency within 48-hours or cancel the agency’s licence.

Continuing with his no-nonsense policy, aviation minister Ajit Singh has directed the state-owned Airports Authority of India (AAI) to recover the outstanding dues of Rs 77 crore from an advertising agency within 48-hours or cancel the agency’s licence.

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Singh, who has taken a strong stand in dealing with cases where rules and regulations have been flouted since taking charge last December, had been forwarded a complaint against an advertising agency that had bought the right to advertise at ten airports run by the AAI.

The complaint said that the agency had been defaulting payments and some AAI officials were hand-in-glove with the agency. Singh set-up a fact-finding committee which revealed that the allegations were true and the agency indeed owed AAI Rs 77 crore. The chief vigilance officer has also been asked to inquire into the matter.

“A full fledged inquiry will be conducted and those AAI officials who are found to be guilty will be taken to task,” an official said.