Pvt firms takeover airports management

The unions sternly warned the Govt against the move, but were tight-lipped about their action plan.

The much-awaited restructuring of Delhi and Mumbai airports would be given effect at midnight when their managements are formally handed over to the two joint venture companies led by GMR and GVK Groups.

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The unions sternly warned the Government against the move, but were tight-lipped about their action plan.

The JV companies, in which Airports Authority of India (AAI) holds 26 per cent stake, have promised to start bringing changes in the airport environments as soon as they are handed over to them within a week or 30 days.

"In the first few days, steps will be taken to reduce the queue time, make available trolleys and provide clean drinking water and toilets and proper seating place. These steps will be taken as they do not involve any construction activity," Jatin Aneja, a partner in Amarchand, Mangaldass and Shroff who oversaw the entire privatisation process said.

Describing the restructuring process as one of the biggest in the world at this moment, he said in 20 years, the revenue generation from one airport would touch about $1.2 billion, of which AAI would get a major share.

Meanwhile AAI Employees Joint Forum leader MK Ghoshal on Tuesday night met Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and warned that the staff had resolved "not to join any private party but continue working under the AAI", complaining that the unions had not been taken into confidence at all.