Government planning to set up 12 new Greenfield airports: Ajit Singh

New Delhi, Oct 8 (ANI): Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh on Monday said that the Central Government is planning to set up 12 new Greenfield airports across the country to accommodate growing air traffic.

Addressing the 49th Conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Asia Pacific Regions here, Singh said: "To accommodate growing air traffic, India has undertaken initiatives to modernise and upgrade the existing airports and develop new Greenfield airports through a mixed strategy of public sector, private sector, Joint Venture and Public-Private Partnership. 12 new Greenfield airports are being planned."

He further said that two major airports of New Delhi and Mumbai have been upgraded through JV route and Delhi airport has already completed its first phase doubling its passenger capacity to 60 million annually.

"Bangalore and Hyderabad Greenfield airports on Build, Own, Operate and Transfer have been commissioned in 2008. New airport facilities are ready for commissioning in Chennai and Kolkata very soon," he said.

"About 50 other non-metro airports are being modernised within next two years. 12 new Greenfield airports are being planned. New policy in airport sector has now permitted up to 100 percent Foreign Direct Investment in Greenfield airports," he added.

He further said that India is committed to provide facilitation standards for passengers in line with the best international practices and has set up high level institutional mechanism for this purpose.

"Other measures include introduction of Advance Passenger Information, Advance Cargo Information and implementation of MRTD in time bound manner,' he added.

Singh categorically stated that the call for suppressing aviation growth to reduce its environmental impact is not acceptable as a solution.

He said that innovative solutions are to be found to address environmental concerns.

He called upon the delegates to oppose any unilateral environment measures imposed by a State or group of State like the EU ETS and work with ICAO to evolve global environment protection on basis of equity and consensus following the broad consensus obtained in UNFCCC in this regard.

The conference with the theme "Managing Air Transport Growth in the Asia Pacific Region through a Collaborative Approach to Safety, Security and Sustainability" will contuinue till October 12.

The first conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation was held in Manila, Philippines in 1960.

The conference which is held every year is a major civil aviation event in the Asia and Pacific Region.

It provides a regional forum for exchange of views among the Directors General/Chief Executives of Civil Aviation in Asia/Pacific Region. India last hosted the DGCA Conference in 1997. (ANI)