The bidding process for the Navi Mumbai airport is likely to be over by 2008, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said on Tuesday.
NEW DELHI: The bidding process for the Navi Mumbai airport is likely to be over by 2008, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said on Tuesday.
"The Maharashtra government-run company CIDCO, which is developing the airport, is appointing a technical consultant. The Union Cabinet has already given in-principle approval to the project. By next calender year, the bidding process should be completed," Patel said.
Asked about the issuance of Initial Public Offer by the newly formed state-owned National Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL), he said 'we will review the merger (of Air India and Indian) after six months and then take a call.'
He said decisions on the IPO or stock options to employees and such issues would be taken keeping in view the market environment prevailing then.
"We will give a new direction to the merged entity, Air India."
To questions relating to the new concept of regional airlines, Patel said several applications have been filed.
"The Ministry will examine them. There are certain formalities. We have to look at their business plans and financial viability."
On allowing higher percentage of FDI in different areas of the aviation sector, he said proposal to enhance the FDI cap from 49 to 74 per cent was before the Cabinet and in some cases, like operation of sea-planes, the proposal is to do away with the cap.
Asked about the ensuing foggy winters, the Minister said several steps have been taken to mitigate the problems faced by passengers.
"However, we have to realise that foggy conditions take the same kind of toll in several parts of the world".
He said Category-III Instrument Landing System (ILS) is working at the Delhi airport and CAT-II in Lucknow and Jaipur.
"Everyone will have to understand that it is a question of safety (if the planes do not take off on time due to fog). The airlines will also have to tighten up. The ministry has held several rounds of discussions with them," Patel said.
The Civil Aviation Ministry has finalised the winter schedule asking all airlines to operate night flights to ease pressure during daytime operations.
Though the number of flight movements, particularly in Mumbai and Delhi airports, have been enhanced following the revised runway capacity, all the airlines have been advised to operate flights in the 'Red Eye' period between 11:00 pm and 5:00 am also, a spokesperson of the ministry said.
These comprise about 3,500 daily flight movements or about 24,500 flights a week. The winter schedule would come into effect from this month end.
With revised runway capacity in Mumbai and Delhi, the number of daily movements in the western metropolis has been raised from 720 to 768 and that for the national capital from 780 to 820.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}