Agartala, Dec 25: Civil Aviation Minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain today said the Union cabinet would take up the issue of private sector participation for the developmentof international airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai next week. "We are planning to invite private sector for the development of international airports in four metros in the interest of tourism for which a draft document along with the proposal will be placed before the cabinet next week," he told a news agency on board inaugural ATR-42 flight from Agartala to Kolkata. Hussain said the matter was being discussed since long and cabinet would ultimately take final decision on the issue.
To a question, both Hussain and the Union Minister for disinvestment and development of north east region Arun Shourie, however, ruled out the disinvestment of Air-India and Indian Airlines in near future.
"The government do not have any such plan at the moment," both the ministers said.

Hussain, on the other hand, expressed satisfaction over Air-India`s net profit of Rs 15.44 crore during 2001-2002 after a gap of six years.

Both the ministers attended three programmes at Guwahati, Dimapur and Agartala during the day while launching the atr-42 inaugural flight of alliance air to the North-East.
Bureau Report