The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has received a one-time upfront payment of over Rs 2300 crore for leasing out six airports. This has been stated by the Union government in a written reply. These airports are Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram and Mangaluru and the leasing has been done through Public Private Partnership (PPP) for operation, management and development on a long-term lease basis.
The information was shared in a written reply by Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Dr VK Singh to a question raised in the Rajya Sabha on Monday. According to Singh’s reply, the total one time upfront payment received by AAI in this regard amounts to Rs 2,349.06 crores.
"The details of one time upfront payment received by AAI, comprising investment in capital work in progress and investment in Regulated Asset Base, at which these airports have been handed over to the Concessionaires stood at Ahmedabad (Rs.314.03 crore), Jaipur(Rs. 271.11 crore), Lucknow (Rs. 602.51 crore), Guwahati (Rs. 507.56 crore), Mangaluru (Rs. 221.88 crore) and Thiruvananthapuram (Rs. 431.97 crore)," stated Singh.
He further stated that till October 2022, AAI has received concession fees of Rs 710.88 crore from the concessionaires for these six airports.
The question also seeked reply on whether the government has taken care of the welfare and social security of all its former employees who have hitherto lost their jobs. To this Singh replied, "Interests of the employees deployed at the airport brought under PPP have been fully protected.
As per the Concession Agreements with Airport Operators under PPP, the employee will continue to be posted at the respective Airport for 3 years (i.e. 1 year Joint Management period followed by 2 years deemed deputation period)."
Also, the Concessionaire is liable to extend the offer of appointment to minimum 60 per cent of employees on terms and conditions not inferior to the existing terms. Subsequently, employees have the option to join the Concessionaire or to return to AAI," added the Minister.
