The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has decided to privatise terminal operations at its Jaipur and Ahmedabad airports, and has invited bids from global firms with a promise to give the winning bidder a free hand in replacing existing airport staff.
“We will hand over the terminal management at Jaipur and Ahmedabad airports to a private sector operator. We expect them to replace all the manpower. The operator will be given a clean slate in (terms of) bringing in their own manpower,” AAI Chairman Guruprasad Mohapatra said at a press conference here on Monday.
Activities outsourced
AAI officials said that about 230 workers were employed at the Jaipur airport in total, while Ahmedabad airport employed about 330 staff. The AAI Chairman said only a limited number of direct employees worked in the terminal side of the airports.
“AAI doesn’t have many direct employees. Most of the airport activities are outsourced and the present employees may be shifted to other airports,” he said.
He said private operators who bid for the lowest management cost and the highest rise in airport revenue will bag the terminal management contract for a period of 15 years. “We expect to hand over the contract before March,” Mr. Mohapatra said. The AAI will hold a pre-bid meeting with prospective applicants on February 6, more than two years after it first sought to privatise operations at four large airports under its watch. According to the bid document, the developer will manage passenger terminal building, including fire control room, kerbside approach road and passenger boarding bridges.
‘Airside with AAI’
The developer will further supervise ground handling services, car parking and all terminal approach roads along with assets, equipment and machinery at the two airports. The AAI will continue to be responsible for operations and maintenance of airside facilities at these two airports including runway, taxiway, cargo complex and other city side facilities.
