News: Chennai, Kolkata airports upgrade on the fast track

(BL 11/09/2006) New Delhi - The process for modernising the Chennai and Kolkata airports is being put on the fast track with the Centre planning to complete consultations with the Tamil Nadu and West Bengal governments to finalise the route to be adopted.

"The initial consultations with the two States will be completed this month. We can then go about finalising the roadmap that should be drawn up for modernising the two airports. The States would also have to look at completing various formalities like acquiring the land before the process can move ahead," officials said.

In August last year, the Prime Minister's Infrastructure Committee had given its in-principle approval for the modernisation of Chennai and Kolkata airports. Similarly, in February this year, while presenting the Economic Survey, the Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram, had said an in-principle decision had been taken to modernise the Chennai airport through the joint venture route.

Different modes

Asked whether different routes could be followed for developing the two metro airports, officials said such a possibility could not be ruled out.

"The Tamil Nadu Government is keen to follow the same route for modernisation as has been adopted for Delhi and Mumbai. In the case of Kolkata, however, there are divergent views that seem to be appearing. But one thing is clear that the traffic projections do not warrant a greenfield airport. Therefore, it is difficult to say just yet as to whether we would follow one or more routes for developing the two airports," officials added.