The CPI(M)’s Rajya Sabha MP, Nilotpal Basu, today criticised the Ministry of Civil Aviation for slow progress in modernising and restructuring the Delhi and Mumbai airports. Basu—who heads a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture—castigated the Ministry after submitting an extensive report on the modernisation process, noting that ‘‘the Committee feels the modernisation programme as explained by the Civil Aviation Ministry is slow, and the target to be achieved is minimal in global standards’’.Stressing that the Ministry’s proposal for modernisation was exorbitant, Basu recommended it adopt the Greenfield airport model, the budget for which would be a fraction of the Ministry’s proposed budget. ‘‘The Ministry has said that modernisation of the Delhi and Mumbai airports would require an investment of Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 crore, whereas the Greenfield model would require only Rs 3,596 crore. The Committee is of the firm view that investing huge money would be a waste as there are huge constraints while reconstructing the existing two airports,’’ he said.Speaking about the modernisation process, Basu said, ‘‘Modernisation is not merely about the creation of facilities, expansion of terminal buildings and putting up fancy malls at airports. It should rather increase the capacity of airports to handle more flights by constructing additional runways, parking bays and terminal buildings.’’The Civil Aviation Ministry, the Committee report notes, has not taken into account the potential growth of annual aircraft movement, which in Mumbai, is expected to touch 500,000 movements in 2024, up from 151,000 movements in 2004. Correspondingly, the annual passenger movement is expected to increase from 14 million in 2004, to 52 million in 2024 in the metropolis. In Delhi, estimates place the rise in movements from 117,000 annually, to 402,000 movements in 20 years, while passenger traffic is expected to go up from 11.2 million in 2004 to 42.8 million in 2024.‘‘The projected investment of Rs 7961 crore for Delhi and Rs 5825 for Mumbai, submitted by the Global Technical Adviser, does not include construction of parallel runways, associated taxiways, removal of encroachments, land acquisition,’’ Basu said. ‘‘Apart from there being no scope for development of parallel runways or expansion of terminals at Mumbai airport, by 2012 it will get absolutely choked. Therefore, we fail to understand how a huge investment can be justified when the existing capacity constraints will not permit capacity addition.’’ ‘Modernisation is not merely about the creation of facilities. it should increase the capacity of airports to handle more air traffic’ — Nilotpal Basu It would be prudent, therefore, Basu said, to opt for a new Greenfield airport—with added capacity, several runways and modern terminals—at a new location in Mumbai, rather than modernise an old structure incapable of handling future growth. ‘‘Similarly in Delhi, the existing infrastructure has that inherent lacuna, and is therefore inadequate in handling the growth projected by the government. Delhi should also explore the possibility of a Greenfield airport at a new location.’’The Committee also sought a probe into the awarding of contracts at Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), observing that ‘‘since the equity holders are themselves the service providers, there is certainly a conflict of interest here’’.It also asked for a ‘‘mini-ratna’’ status for Airports Authority of India (AAI), protection of AAI employee interests once new airports were commissioned, and critical importance to be given to connectivity between the airport and city centre.
