Question : Privatisation of Airports

(a) whether about 15 profitable airports were put under private management in the first such privatisation initiative by the Government to enhance India’s aviation infrastructure;

(b) if so, the facts thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the AAI has large chunk of land across the country and is ranked as the third highest in terms of the land it owns probably after Railways and defence;

(d) if so, the total acres of land owned by the AAI and how much land it has surplus;

(e) whether currently, the AAI Act limits AAI to use its land for only airport related purposes;

(f) whether the Union Government is planning to amend the AAI Act to monetize its surplus land for commercial purpose;

(g) if so, the details thereof; and

(h) whether the Union Government has identified land for monetization and if so, the details thereof?

The Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Jayant Sinha)

(a) & (b): No Madam. However, the Government has decided to lease out the six airports of Airports Authority of India (AAI) viz. Thiruvananthapuram, Guwahati, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow and Mangaluru for operation, management and development through Public Private Partnership (PPP) Model. AAI has issued the Request for Proposal (RFP) in this regard on 14.12.2018. Last date for submission of bids is 14.02.2019.;

(c) & (d): AAI is in possession of 59244 acres of land as on 31.3.2018. All the land in possession of AAI is essential for safe and secured airport operations, hence, no land is surplus.;

(e) to (g): The National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) 2016 envisages to explore ways to unlock the potential of the airport land by liberalising the end-use restrictions which requires amendment to AAI Act.;

(h): With a view to enhance the passenger convenience and facilities at AAI Airports as well as to increase the revenue through development of non-aeronautical activities to the extent permissible under the provisions of existing AAI Act, the City Side land have been identified for the Development purposes.