Associated Chambers of Commerce
and Industry (Assocham) has mooted the idea of setting up a
national aviation fund for financing airport infrastructure.
“The fund should be created by channelising various levies
imposed on the airport infrastructure,” the chamber said in a
statement in New Delhi.
It suggested that wherever the airports authority of
India takes up non-viable projects for social objectives, the
initial capital cost and recurring annual loss sustained by it
should be reimbursed by the government.
The chambers also recommended that the government
privatise loss making and marginally profit making airports to
private companies, state governments and local bodies for
operation and management.
There is a need for rationalisation and optimisation of
various charges like passenger charges and imposition of new
levies, it said adding that massive economy in expenditure can
be realised from manpower optimisation, contracting out
services and cost reduction.
On the issue of private sector participation in the
sector the chambers has said that this should also include
state governments on a joint venture basis or any other
pattern of ownership and manangement.
Bureau Report
