The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Patel for public-private partnership

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Thursday, Nov 02, 2006
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Patel for public-private partnership

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel said on Wednesday that the public-private partnership model should be adopted for airport infrastructure development in the country.

The Minister was addressing the gathering before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh unveiled the plagues marking the commencement of construction works on the new International Terminal Complex and Air India Maintenance Base at the Thiruvananthapuram airport here.

Mr. Patel noted that the Kochi international airport showed the success of the public-private partnership model.

He added that the Airports Authority of India would be strengthened and most of the airports would remain under its control.

He said the proposed Kannur airport might become a reality. The Central Government had approved the proposal in principle, and it was likely to get the Cabinet nod.

He said the new terminal here was the first of the works to be taken up in 35 non-metro airports in the country. It would be completed in a time-bound manner. The modernisation of the Kozhikode airport was under way.

Noting that Air-India had introduced budget airlines for the benefit of the Gulf Keralites, Mr. Patel said the public carrier would have to improve its efficiency. Its employees and management would have to be very pro-active in understanding the needs of its customers.

Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi called upon the airlines to offer cheaper rates on their international flights.

Remarking that the new terminal was a birthday present to the State, Union Minister of State A. K. Antony said that it should be completed on a war footing.

Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan recalled that the there had been delays in the development of the airport after it was declared an international airport 15 years ago. Now, the Centre was taking steps to complete the first phase of the terminal in 11 months.

Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs M. Vijayakumar, Food and Civil Supplies Minister C. Divakaran, Member of Parliament Pannian Ravindran, Opposition Leader Oommen Chandy, Member of Assembly V. Surendran Pillai and Mayor C. Jayan Babu attended.

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