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Bombay, Delhi airports to be made international hubs

Airports in Delhi and Bombay are to be reclassified and developed as international hubs like Schipol in Amsterdam, Frankfurt Main, and Changi in Singapore.

The proposed reclassification is spelled out in the new draft civil aviation policy relating to development of airports infrastructure. The new airport infrastructure programme is at the final stage and may have 100 per cent funding by non-residents, foreign investors, and international airports authorities.

The proposed classification of airports is based on the geographical strategic locations between India and Europe and the Far East. The burgeoning traffic potential and the future growth has made it imperative that the airports within the country are classified into three categories -- international, national and regional hubs.

Under the proposed development, Bombay and Delhi are expected to provide facilities comparable to world class standards, including convenient connections to international and domestic passengers, airports-related infrastructures like hotels, shopping areas, conference and entertainment facilities, aircraft maintenance basis, security, and other related services.

The draft policy suggests that these two cities ''need to be developed not only to meet the growing traffic demands, but also to have additional capacity available to stimulate air traffic growth.''

The second category will be that of ''national hubs'' which may cover airports, currently classified as international airports and those eminently qualified to be upgraded as such. The policy said these would at present cover Madras, Calcutta, and Thiruvananthapuram. Airports at Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, and Guwahati can be added to list as and when the facilities there are upgraded to the desired level.

National hubs would be used for dispersal of international traffic to the hinterland. In these airports also, the facilities shall be of world class standard, the policy states.

The draft policy said, ''The government is keen to encourage development of regional airlines based on smaller aircraft to provide air linkages in the interior ares of the country.''

Regional hubs would act as operational bases for regional airlines and also have all the facilities currently designed for model airports, including the capability to handle limited international traffic.

The identification of a regional hub would be made on the basis of origin-destination, surveys, traffic demands, and the requirements of the airlines. State governments will be closely associated as co-promoters of regional airlines.

Under the category of other operational airports, the policy said these will be developed so as to be cost effective and on the basis of individual needs. Airports serving state capitals will be given priority.

While dealing with the upgradation of airports, the draft policy said, ''The status of individual airports may be reviewed at five yearly intervals, on the recommendation of a committee of experts. Grant of status of national or international hub will be with prior cabinet approval.''

It is clarified, the draft said, that international and national hubs taken jointly shall have the status of international airports for purpose of bilateral agreements.

Dealing with the financing of airports infrastructure, the draft said that considering the astronomical sum required for the modernisation and upgradation of existing airports, Rs 100 billion would be needed for the new airport at Bombay and Rs 16 billion for the airport at Bangalore.

In the light of this, the financing strategy will have to be looked at from a novel standpoint.

UNI