Ramakanta Biswas

News Highlights

  • Privatisation of Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar has been approved
  • AAI board approved leasing of Bhubaneswar airport along with five other airports 

The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has approved privatisation of the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA), Bhubaneswar, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Gen. VK Singh informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. 

He said the AAI board has approved leasing of Bhubaneswar airport for undertaking operations, management and development through Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode along with five other airports. 

The five other airports to be privatised are Varanasi, Amritsar, Raipur, Indore and Trichy. 

Replying to a question asked by MP Subhash Chandra Singh, the MoS said, “AAI Board in its 190th meeting held on 5th September, 2019 has approved leasing of another six airports namely Bhubaneswar, Varanasi, Amritsar, Raipur, Indore and Trichy for undertaking operations, management and development through PPP.”

He said in the year 2008, Greenfield Airports Policy was approved paving the way for development of Greenfield airports either by Government or a Private Entity or under Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. National Civil Aviation Policy, 2016 also emphasises development of airports through PPP route. 

“It states that Ministry of Civil Aviation will continue to encourage development of airports by the State Governments or the private sector or in PPP mode. In 2006, Airports Authority of India (AAI) leased out Delhi and Mumbai Airports under PPP model for operation, management and development of the airports. 

In 2018-19, six more airports viz. Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram and Mangaluru were awarded under PPP by AAI. 

scrollToTop