Stating that state-owned airports are being leased out to private parties in public interest, the government on Monday said that as many as 25 Airports Authority of India (AAI) airports have been earmarked for leasing over the years 2022 to 2025.
In a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on Monday, Minister of State for Civil Aviation V. K. Singh said that the airports would be leased out as per the national monetization plan (NMP).
The new list of airports to be handed over to private companies for operation and management includes Bhubaneshwar, Varanasi, Amritsar, Trichy, Indore, Raipur, Calicut, Coimbatore, Nagpur, Patna, Madurai, Surat, Ranchi, Jodhpur, Chennai, Vijayawada, Vadodara, Bhopal, Tirupati, Hubli, Imphal, Agartala, Udaipur, Dehradun and Rajahmundry.
State-run AAI has so far leased out eight of its airports under Public Private Partnership (PPP) for operation, management and development on a long term lease basis. They include Delhi and Mumbai airports.
“Airports of AAI are leased out in public interest for their better management utilizing private sector efficiency and investment. States and passengers are the ultimate beneficiary of enhanced airport infrastructure and facilities created by private partner, who operates, manages and develops the leased airport under PPP,” the Minister said.
He further said that airports have emerged as a nucleus of economic activities and have a multiplier effect on the economy of the State.
“The revenue received by AAI from the leased airports is also utilized in development of airport infrastructure across the country,” added Singh.
