Patna, Sept 18: Civil Aviation Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy sought to dispel fear of retrenchment among the staff of Airport Authority of India (AAI), who began a relay fast against the proposed privatisation of Delhi and Mumbai airports today. " Let there be no misgiving. No staff of the AAI at Delhi and Mumbai will be retrenched. They will continue to serve the public as usual", he told a press conference here.

The staff of the two airports would be sent on deputation to the proposed company to be set up in joint venture with 26 per cent Central government participation for three years, the minister said. "If they are not comfortable with their job conditions in the joint venture company, the door for their return to AAI will remain open. There is no need to fear," he said.

Civil Aviation Ministry has decided to hand over the Mumbai and Delhi airports to joint venture companies with effective government participation to ensure their upgradation and to make them world class airports, he said adding the matter which was pending with the Centre for the last four years got the cabinet nod last week. While saying a group of ministers was monitoring the entire exercise, the minister said, utmost transparency will be observed. Bureau Report