Airport modernisation on its way in India

India’s airport modernisation program delivered its first major results in 2008 with the opening of the Greenfield airports in Bangalore and Hyderabad on a Public Private Partnership basis. Although not immune from controversy, these new facilities have brought world class airport infrastructure to India for the first time. The upgrading of Delhi and Mumbai Airports continues to deliver incremental improvements in advance of the opening of new facilities in 2010, and work has commenced on the modernisation projects at Chennai and Kolkata.

Tenders for modernisation of 35 non-metro airports are expected to be issued shortly after the new government is in place. Agreement has reportedly been reached with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) that private sector participation will be limited to landside commercial development. All aeronautical activities and management of the terminals will remain with AAI.

The other major greenfield airport project, the development of a second airport for Mumbai at Navi Mumbai, continues to be delayed. The recent slowing of traffic has pushed back the date by which the current airport is expected to reach capacity,