The modernisation projects for airports at Chennai and Kolkata was approved by the government today at a cost of over Rs 3,750 crore and the work is likely to be completed within three years.
As desired by the state governments led by DMK in Tamil Nadu and the Left Front in West Bengal, the entire modernisation and expansion activities would be undertaken by state-run Airports Authority of India, which would also retain ownership of the two airports.
"The AAI can create these two airports into models and compete with the private sector to develop world-class airports. They can even compete in the international arena," Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel told reporters here after the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the projects.
While the Kolkata airport would be developed at an estimated cost of Rs 1,942.51 crore, the one at Chennai would cost Rs 1,808 crore.
The Kolkata project would be completed in 30 months of the award of the contract and the one at Chennai within 26 months.
Both the projects envisage large investments and would be completed in a time-bound manner, Patel said, adding that the upgraded airports would cater to the needs of Kolkata and Chennai for the next two decades.
After completion, the two airports will be on par with those at Delhi and Mumbai. The issues of additional land for expansion plans of the two have been sorted out by both the state governments, he said.