The Narendra Modi-led government has given its approval for leasing out three Indian airports — Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram through public-private partnership (PPP).
These three airports form a part of the original six that were auctioned last year, wherein Adani Enterprises won the bid. The agreements for Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Mangalore airports were signed early this year, however, there has been a disruption in the process owing to the pandemic.
In his recent live address, Prakash Javadekar, minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Information and Broadcasting; Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Government of India stated that this is not a permanent move. The airports will be given on a lease period of 50 years.
Airports Authority of India (AAI) will get ₹1,070 crore upfront from handing over the airports for redevelopment. This money will be used to develop airports in smaller cities, added Javadekar.
Elaborating more on this step, civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri said, “Public-Private partnership at these airports will not only help in the delivery of efficient and quality services to the air passengers but will also help Airports Authority of India in enhancing its revenues and focusing on developing more airports in Tier II and Tier III regions.”
