NEW DELHI: A 32-member parliamentary panel has recommended developing new Greenfield airports in Delhi and Mumbai that will have the capacity to handle much more passenger and air traffic keeping in view the growth in the civil aviation sector in the country.

The Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, in its 90th report tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, was of the view that investing huge money on modernisation of Mumbai and Delhi airports would be a waste as there were certain inherent technological constraints.

"The option of going in for a new Greenfield airport rather than the proposed modernisation of Mumbai airport will be more prudent. The existing infrastructure at Delhi airport also possesses that inherent lacuna and is therefore, inadequate to handle the growth being projected for the future by the Government. The Government should explore the possibility of having a Greenfield airport in Delhi also,'' it said.

Cannot be justified

Addressing a press conference, Nilotpal Basu, Communist Party of India (Marxist) member of the Rajya Sabha who chaired the Committee, said the Mumbai airport would get "completely choked'' by 2012 and a second runway could not be constructed there. "The committee fails to understand as to how the huge investment to be made at the airport could be justified when the existing capacity constraints would not permit capacity addition,'' Mr. Basu said.

Though the committee's recommendations are not binding on the Government, the report has the potential to affect the ongoing process of modernisation and restructuring of Delhi and Mumbai airports.

The panel sought a probe into the awarding of contracts at the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) observing that "since the equity holders are themselves the service providers, there is certainly a conflict of interest.'' Calling for more functional autonomy to the Airports Authority of India (AAI), it recommended that the status of "Mini Ratna'' should be accorded to the AAI so that it gets adequate opportunity to utilise its professional excellence in development and maintenance of airports. Reiterating the recommendation made in its 88th report, the panel wanted the Civil Aviation Ministry to take steps for the creation of an eastern hub at Kolkata and a southern hub at Chennai.

It also said that the Government should prepare schemes for positive incentives for use of airports other than Delhi and Mumbai for parking and greater utilisation by levying lesser charges.

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