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Kolkata, Chennai airports' revamp a priority: Govt
Govt on Thursday said development of Kolkata and Chennai airports would be taken up on priority basis.
The Government on Thursday said the development of Kolkata and Chennai airports would be taken up on a priority basis after due consultations, besides modernisation of 35 non-metro airports at a cost of Rs 7,000- 8,000 crore.
Talking to reporters after the meeting of the Committee on Infrastructure chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said the 35 non-metro airports, including two greenfield airports at Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, would be developed by AAI. Public-private partnership route would be preferred for non-aeronautical exercises.
Patel said Singh had laid special emphasis on development of North-East airports and also the greenfield airports at Sikkim and Arunchal Pradesh.
He said the construction work is likely to begin next year and be completed by 2008-09. The partner for the PPP would be decided after due bidding process.
Patel said the Planning Commission has also evinced keen interest on the development of non-metro airports.
The Minister said the Commission and Finance Ministry have accorded in-principle approval, allowing AAI to go for market borrowing as and when required.
Replying to a query, Patel said final touches were being given to the Civil Aviation Policy and it would be presented to the Cabinet for its approval soon.
