Exclusive: Govt nod on privatisation of these 6 airports likely by August 15; bidding process may start this year

The Modi government is likely to give its go-ahead to the proposal for privatisation of 6 airports in the country in the next cabinet meeting, Zee Business’ Sameer Dixit told Managing Editor Anil Singhvi in this big exclusive, breaking news from the aviation sector.

Dixit quoted official sources and said that these six airports are Ranchi, Trichy, Bhubhaneshwar, Raipur, Indore and Amritsar. These airports are currently with the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The move is being considered to develop these airports on a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model, he said.

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#ZBizExclusive | 15 अगस्त से पहले अमृतसर, इंदौर, रांची समेत कुल 6 एयरपोर्ट के निजीकरण को कैबिनेट से जल्द मिल सकती है हरी झंडी: सूत्र

> बिडिंग प्रक्रिया भी इसी साल होगी शुरू #Airport #AirportAuthority @AnilSinghvi_ @sameerdixit16 pic.twitter.com/HWZIGeQMjc

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Aviation Ministry has already prepared a cabinet note and sent it to the cabinet. The final call from the cabinet is awaited.

The Prime Minister’s Office did a review meeting on investments and privatisation in the infrastructure sector in May. The PMO had given a deadline of 3 months for completing all the necessary work regarding privatisation of these six airports, which has been lingering for a long time, Dixit said. The deadline ends around August 15. 

Dixit said that the approval is likely to come through by August 15, he said.

Once the approval comes through, the process of bidding of these airports will start.

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In 2018, the government decided to private 12 airports, six out of which have already got approval in the first phase. Adani Group emerged as the highest bidder for these airports. All the six airports have been allotted to the Group under the PPP model. The Group will be spending Rs 3 lakh cr on these 6 airports. This includes the cost of acquisition of the airports along with redevelopment cost, Dixit said. Lucknow, Guwahati and Ahmedabad airports are among the six which got approval in the first phase.