Amid strong protests from employees of Airports Authority of India (AAI), leading companies, including the GMR Group, GVK, Tatas and Siemens, inspected Chennai airport on Wednesday.
The inspection was a precursor to the companies’ participation in a bid to privatise the airport. The prospective bidders questioned AAI officials about the secondary runway of the airport.
As part of modernisation project, the secondary runway had to be extended up to 3,400 metres at a cost of Rs. 450 crore. But despite the investment, the current length of the runway is only 2,200 metres.
When asked why the entire runway was not available for use, an AAI official said, “We should put in some important facilities for which we need additional land from the State government. Soon after that is done, the full length of the runway will be available for use.”
Officials said the private player taking over the airport may be able to develop shopping malls on the premises.
“In front of the cargo area, there is some land that can be developed into a shopping mall. It will attract many residents,” an official said. Also, the Metro Rail facility will be an added advantage, he said.
Meanwhile, AAI staff continued their protest, holding black flags and shouting slogans against privatisation.
L. George, regional secretary, Airports Authority Employees’ Union, said, “After spending so much money to modernise the airport, it is unfair to hand it over to a private player. Eventually, they will only be interested in building shopping malls and won’t care about passenger amenities.”
