Planning Commission to formulate new policy framework for building new airports

The Planning Commission will hold a meeting soon to discuss a new policy framework for building new airports in the country under public-private partnerships (PPPs). The meeting is likely to be organized on April 29 and will be attended by top bureaucrats, industry experts, chairmen of leading financiers and prospective global investors. Planning Commission also urged the invitees to send their clause-wise comments for the formation of fresh policy.  Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia has asseted that it is an official-level consultation and no final decisions are expected to be taken. Further, he added that the process to award the contracts will put on hold until a new government is formed after the general elections. Ahluwalia also cleared that this exercise is not about privatising existing airports but building new airports in various states and for those interested in greenfield airport priojects. The commission also highlighted that policy framework can also be applied to brownfield PPP projects where an existing airport is upgraded through PPPs with some modifications. Planning Commission had earlier in the year 2009 published a model concession agreement for new airports via PPPs, but the aviation ministry rejected the proposal. Since then, the aviation sector has undergone a number of regulatory and policy changes.