Airport upgrade plan to be discussed tomorrow

The empowered group of ministers (GoM) will take up the modernisation plans of Delhi and Mumbai airports tomorrow. This was announced by civil aviation minister Praful Patel in the city today.

Eight bids have been received for the modernisation of the two airports.

Speaking to newspersons on the sidelines of an aviation and tourism investor summit, Patel cautioned low-cost carriers on their low fare structure, and said: "There is a need to take care on the fares being introduced as aviation has not matured enough in India".

He said there was too much concentration on Delhi and Mumbai airports, and there was need for airlines to go to other airports. "We will provide incentives like non-peak and peak hour traffic and also disperse them to other airports", he added.

Patel said the aviation policy has been circulated to other ministeries, and "we expect to hear their comments after which it would be announced soon."