The Hindu : Front Page : Airport employees stage protest demonstrations

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 02, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

Airport employees stage protest demonstrations

Vinay Kumar

Nod for selection of firms for Delhi, Mumbai airports revamp

PHOTO: VIVEK BENDRE

EXPRESSING THEIR ANGUISH: Employees of the Airports Authority of India protest against privatisation of airports in Mumbai on Wednesday.

NEW DELHI: Employees of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) across the country staged demonstrations on Wednesday against the privatisation of the Delhi and Mumbai airports.

However, air services throughout the country remained by and large unaffected.

Civil Aviation Secretary Ajay Prasad said operations of all domestic airlines remained normal in most parts of the country. There was no drop in passenger loads.

The Union Cabinet, meanwhile, approved the selection of two consortia for the modernisation of the airports.

Mr. Prasad said that only Kolkata witnessed some disruption, mainly because some personnel were not able to man fire engines. "We have to ensure the safety of passengers."

The Government explained to the AAI employees the steps being taken to protect their interests even after the modernisation process began.

"The two successful bidders have agreed to absorb 60 per cent of the AAI staff, though the Government had mandated that they need to absorb only 40 per cent of the workforce. Besides, the process will see the AAI grow and have more revenues to focus attention on developing more airports,'' he said.

Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel told reporters after the Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh: "The Cabinet has accorded its approval to the report of the empowered Group of Ministers (eGoM) on the Delhi and Mumbai airports modernisation and restructuring plan. The final approval has been given. The process will now move ahead.''

The eGoM, headed by Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, on Tuesday cleared the financial bids of the GMR-Fraport and GVK-South African Airports consortia for the Rs 5,200-crore airport modernisation projects.

Mr. Patel said he had requested West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya to help maintain normality.

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