Mopa airport gets ‘in-principle’ nod
An approval has been given for setting up international greenfield airports in Goa and Maharashtra through public-private partnership (PPP), government told the Lok Sabha today.
The airports, for which ‘in-principle’ approval has been given, will be constructed at Mopa in Goa and Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said in reply to questions.
These are in addition to two greenfield airports being constructed at Shamashabad near Hyderabad and Devanhalli near Bangalore, he said adding these will be operational by April next year.
The government also intends to give approval to construction of such an airport at Cunnoor in Kerala and the process is underway, he said.
Patel said the government was encouraging greenfield projects usually through public-private route.
Such projects can be undertaken by private sector cent-per-cent as also State governments, the minister said.
Noting that Airports Authority of India (AAI) had 125 airports under its purview, Patel said these needed to be developed, including through public-private partnership.
He said the Indira Gandhi International Airport at Delhi and Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport at Mumbai have been restructured and handed over to joint venture companies in May 2006 for operation, management and development through PPP model.
To a question, the minister said Cooch Behar airport was ready and can be opened for commercial operations in about a month.