WB wants Anil to make new airport

The West Bengal Govt has invited the Anil Ambani group for developing a greenfield airport in the metropolis.

Even as the issue of modernising the airport in Kolkata remains unsettled, the West Bengal government is understood to have invited the Anil Ambani group for developing a greenfield airport in the metropolis.

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The state government urged the group about a fortnight ago to explore the possibility of setting up a brand new airport in the city, sources with knowledge of the development said.

Approached for comment, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee refused to say anything on the issue at this stage.

A senior state government official, however, confirmed the state government had started a feasiblity study for developing a greenfield airport on the outskirts of the city, but expressed ignorance about any particular business group being approached for taking up the project.

An ADAG spokesman too refused to comment on the subject.

Interestingly, the development came to light less than a week after Bhattacharjee told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his visit to the city that he favoured a private party building the greenfield airport.

"I told the prime minister that we were interested in a private party building the greenfield airport," Bhattacharjee had said after meeting Singh here. He also conceded that Singh had expressed surprise at the Left Front government being ready to accept a private party for the project.