CCEA deferrers Kolkata airport modernisation

New Delhi: The proposal for modernisation of Kolkata airport, which was expected to be taken up by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Thursday at its weekly meeting, was deferred.

The Cabinet meeting was expected to give the nod for the Rs 1,942.5-crore project thereby clearing the way for Airports Authority of India (AAI) to begin work.

The proposal could not be taken up as there were a large number of issues before the Cabinet on Thursday and will now be considered at the next Cabinet meeting.

The Cabinet is also shortly expected to take up a proposal for modernisation of Chennai airport. Official sources indicated that all efforts were being made to ensure that modernisation work at Chennai begins latest by October.

While AAI has been given the mandate to Chennai and Kolkata airports, two new joint venture companies Delhi International Airport Ltd and Mumbai International Airport Ltd in which private companies hold a majority stake, were given the mandate to modernise the airports in Delhi and Mumbai.