Minister of state for banking and insurance, Balasaheb Vikhe Patil, has expresed concern over moves to re-allot money exchange counters in international airports currently being held by public sector banks and has asked the civil aviation ministry to intervene. In a letter to the minister of civil aviation, Chamanlal Gupta, Patil said that the banks have been providing money exchange service as well as collection of customs duties at these counters at airports for several years largely as service and not as commercial activity. ''I am informed that recently the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had invited bids on the basis of open tender for allotment of money exchange counters at difference international airports. And based on the highest bids, these counter are being alloted to private parties and not to public sector banks'', he has written. Patil said that he has also got reports saying the banks will be allowed to continue with their counters in the arrival lounges only to facilitate collection of customs duties. ''It would be extremely uneconomical for PSU banks to continue only with the business of collection of customs duties'', Patil said in his letter, adding while the AAI must take steps to augment its revenue, the banks should not be deprived of money exchange service. Bureau Report