Planning Commission to look at new policy for green-field airports
A high-level meeting to discuss a fresh policy framework for building new airports in the country, has been called up by the Planning Commission, whose term expires after this election, till the next government comes into power even as civil aviation minister Ajit Singh has put on hold UPA’s last-gasp infrastructure drive to privatize six large airports.
To discuss a new model concession agreement for Greenfield airports built under public-private partnerships, or PPPs, a meeting has been scheduled by The Planning Commission’s infrastructure division with top bureaucrats, chairmen of leading financiers, industry experts and prospective and global investors. Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said, this is an official-level consultation and no concluding decisions are expected to be taken.
He told sources, until a new government is in place, though it is appropriate to put award of contracts on hold but there is no reason why normal consultations at official level on technical matters should be postponed. He stressed that his motive is not the privatisation of existing airports but building new airports that states are keen on. State governments are interested in Greenfield airports.
He added it is not linked to any specific project or state. On the other hand, on infrastructure issues Gajendra Haldea and civil aviation secretary Ashok Lavasa are skeptical about the outcomes of this exercise just about a fortnight before the Lok Sabha poll results are announced, a few officials were also invited to the meeting to be co-chaired by Ahluwalia’s advisor.
A senior industry official, expressing surprise at the development said, this is highly unusual, what is the sanctity of this policy making exercise and who will approve the new document being prepared? For setting up Greenfield airports, back in 2008, The UPA-II government has already adopted a policy for setting up Greenfield airports. A year later, via PPPs the Planning Commission had published a model concession agreement for new airports, but the aviation ministry had completely dissociated itself from the document.
Planning Commission missive, intimating 73 invitees about the meeting to discuss the document said, as the civil aviation sector has faced a number of policy and regulatory changes. In this regard model concession agreement for Greenfield airports has been suitably revised to incorporate such developments.
Source: Economic Times
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Anita Arjundas, Board of Directors, Business segments, green-field airports building new airports in the country, Mahindra group, Mahindra Lifespace Managing Director, Mumbai-based Mahindra Life spaces, Planning Commission
