New
Delhi: The Indian Government plans to award
the contract for the modernisation of New Delhi
and Mumbai airports by the end of 2005, a senior
official said. India had set up a ministerial panel
to oversee the privatisation of huge airports in
Delhi and Mumbai to help cope with the surge in
air travel. Civil Aviation Secretary Ajay Prasad
told reporters in New Delhi that the panel's queries
have been looked into and a decision has to be taken
within three months. "As far as our reaction to
this is concerned, I said during our preliminary
discussions these facts were placed before the committee.
The honourable committee has made certain observations,
we are studying these observations and as required
under parliamentary procedure we have to, within
three months, furnish an action taken report to
the parliament. We will be doing so within the time
limit," Prasad said.
India had set up a ministerial panel to oversee
the privatisation of the two airports to help cope
with the surge in air travel. The airports are India's
most profitable, but shabby by international standards,
and privatisation will help them upgrade without
the government having to provide any money. Potential
bidders include Germany's Fraport AG and Singapore's
Changi Airport as well as consumer durables firm
Videocon International Ltd. The modernisation involves
building a new international terminal at New Delhi
and a domestic terminal at Mumbai at an estimated
cost of over 35 billion rupees. The government aims
to set up two joint venture companies to hold the
leases to operate the two airports and is offering
74 percent stakes in them. Foreign firms can hold
up to 49 percent of the operating companies, while
private Indian companies -- including domestic financial
institutions -- must hold at least 25 percent.
- Aug
31, 2005
Travelling
abroad is no more an impossible dream for Indians (Go
To Top)
by Lokendra Singh
Jaipur:
Travelling abroad is fast becoming possible
for ordinary folk. The reasonable air fares and
attractive tour packages have made it possible.
This is evident from the significant rise in the
number of people from India touring other countries
during the past one year. More than five million
Indians have enjoyed their holidays offshore in
the year 2004 . Merzban Mojoo, Area Director, Singapore
Tourism Board, says it is likely there would be
a 20 per cent growth over 2004 in 2005. The aggressive
marketing by foreign countries, economical tour
packages and increase in corporate or business trips
has been responsible for the increase.
"There are a lot of factors that attract people
to Singapore. The first thing is shopping. Singapore
being a shoppers' paradise. There is a lot of attraction
for children like - night safari - which is the
only night safari," says Mojoo. "Dubai is another
destination. You will find everything, you will
find desert, you will find the sea, you will find
all wild bodies in the water park. The park meant
for children. So people come here not only for shopping
but also for honeymoon. It's a very good combination,"
says Gunjan, a tour operator from Dubai. The present
trend shows that this year around 6.5 million Indians
are expected to visit Dubai."We feel that we will
enjoy there and we will get a kind of satisfaction,"
says Sunita, another visitor.
The Indian tourist destinations like Goa, Rajasthan
and others are facing tough competitions from south-east
countries like Malasiya and Singapore as visiting
these countries costs the same amount of money.
One can fly to Dubai, Singapore or Malasiya with
a starting package of 16,000/- rupees for two nights
which is almost equal to the amount to be spent
to visit tourist places within India.
- Aug
27, 2005
