02-13-2006, 02:16 AM
<b>The idea of developing new airports in the private sector and allowing the other 124 operational airports to function under the present Government controlled set up, will in the long run create another sick PSU on the lines of the Textile Corporation of India. The privatization of the major airports should in my view be allowed to continue but this should not prevent the construction of new airports by private sector.
The CPM led Government in West Bengal has already floated the idea of a second airport in Kolkata by the Private Sector while the existing one be allowed to continue functioning under the Government. The existing space around the Kolkata airport still has lots of open space for expansion. If the mosque can be shifted, the second runway can also be expanded to its full extent. These are not problems which cannot be resolved. The main problem is the Trade Unions opposition to the privatization move. It is high time that the political leaders should take a dispassionate view of the situation and take action which will help in the accelerated development of the economy of the region, for which better means of communication with the outside world is a pre requisite.</b>
The CPM led Government in West Bengal has already floated the idea of a second airport in Kolkata by the Private Sector while the existing one be allowed to continue functioning under the Government. The existing space around the Kolkata airport still has lots of open space for expansion. If the mosque can be shifted, the second runway can also be expanded to its full extent. These are not problems which cannot be resolved. The main problem is the Trade Unions opposition to the privatization move. It is high time that the political leaders should take a dispassionate view of the situation and take action which will help in the accelerated development of the economy of the region, for which better means of communication with the outside world is a pre requisite.</b>