Date:22/06/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/06/22/stories/2005062203240300.htm

Back `Upgradation of airports must be given priority'

Our Bureau

Chennai , June 21

WITH Indian companies placing orders for about 300 aircraft at the Paris Air Show, the focus has now turned to the poor infrastructure at the country's airports, according Mr D. Sudhakara Reddy, founder and President, Air Passengers' Association of India (APAI).

Mr Reddy said there was an urgent need to modernise the existing airports and also get the new airport projects going. There would be no place to park or land the aircraft as the airlines are jostling for facilities and space, he said.

He said that Mumbai and New Delhi airports were extremely congested. Work on the greenfield airport project at Bangalore was yet to start, he added.

He said the sanction for new airports and low-cost terminals was the need of the hour. Airport projects at Navi Mumbai, Nagpur, Kannur, Chennai, NOIDA and Surat were awaiting clearances, he said.

He said that the Civil Aviation policy continued to remain a "mirage".