New Delhi, July 28: Government today assured the Rajya Sabha that it was not seeking to privatise airports authority of India but was only trying to spruce up the country's image by providing it world-class airports. Replying to a debate on the Airports Authority of India (amendment) Bill 2003, which got parliamentary approval with the Rajya Sabha passing it today, civil aviation minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy said the legislation does not seek privatisation of AAI but merely of the two airports at Delhi and Mumbai. The minister sought to allay apprehensions on security, saying the air traffic control would rest with government even after privatisation of the two airports, adding other cases will be taken up later.
The bill seeks to provide a legal framework for private investment in "green field" airports, levying of development fees on passengers and setting up an airport appellate tribunal. It seeks to provide for eviction of unauthorised occupants of airport premises besides appointment of eviction officers and a tribunal to obviate the menace of large-scale encroachment.

Aimed at improving the standard of services and facilities at airports to bring them on par with international norms, the bill is designed to facilitate restructuring of airports and infusion of private sector investment.

Bureau Report