Maharashtra to adopt PPP model for 7 airports

The Maharashtra government will adopt Public Private Parntership (PPP) model for building airports in seven cities of the state, R C Sinha, VC & MD, Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC), said.

Of the seven airports proposed, the one at Shirdi will be greenfield whereas in case of other six cities - Solapur, Phalton, Dhulia, Karad, Jalgaon and Chandrapur - airstrips exist already but there is no airport infrastructure, Sinha told PTI in an interview.

Airports in Solapur and Jalgaon will be taken up first while construction on other airports would be taken up gradually, Sinha said.

Under the Public Private Partnership, MADC on behalf of the state government will give land on which the private party would build the airport.

The proposal is that the party which builds the airport will also run the same. A joint venture company will be formed for the development of the airports.

The value of the land would be converted into equity and MADC will hold that equity.

According to Sinha, many airlines have shown interest in starting flights to these regional destinations and small 48 to 52 passenger aircraft are likely to be operated there. Shirdi especially is expected to see high traffic with all airlines willing to start flights to the town. MADC has appointed L&T-Ramboll as consultant. The firm will visit each of the designated cities and suggest steps required to make the airports operational there. The report would be ready in 4 months after which MADC will decide on the investment requirement, Sinha said.