GMR against second city airport

Mr P. Sripathy, CEO of the GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited, has opposed the suggestion by the parliamentary standing committee on civil aviation to reopen Begumpet as a second airport in the city.

Talking to this correspondent after receiving the best airport award from the prestigious Airports Council International at a function in this picturesque southern part of China, Mr Sripathy said everyone was satisfied with the facilities at Shamshabad and there was no need for a second airport.

“There is best road connectivity, and it just takes half an hour to reach the airport from the centre of Hyderabad city,” he said. “We can also handle further increase of passengers and cargo.”

Mr Sripathy added that there was an agreement with the Centre and the AP government that the consent of the GHIAL would be taken in case a need arose for a second airport within 150 km radius of the Shamshabad airport.

The GHIAL CEO said that passengers of Shamshabad airport would soon get food and beverages at reduced prices.

Mr Sripathy said there was a necessity of fund adjustment with the first promoter in case a second airport is needed.

Several projects would also be taken up to increase the non-traffic revenue and more cold storages particularly for the pharma industries in and around Hyderabad will be set up in collaboration with Lufthansa Airways.

“It is indeed a great honour that the Hyderabad airport has got this prestigious award within shortest time of commencing its operations,” he said. “Now we are known to the entire world.”

Mr P.S.Nair, CEO of Delhi International Airport (P) Ltd also received an award for overall performance in Asia Pacific Region for 2009. The Delhi airport is also managed by GMR group.

“It is a moment of pride,” said Mr Nair, who worked earlier as CEO of GHIAL. He said the new terminal of the airport will be formally inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on July 3 this year and formal operations of all services will begin from July 14 night.

With this terminal becoming operational, Delhi will have the biggest airport in India and the fifth biggest in the world.

Passenger facilitators who will help travellers to access different amenities will also be employed once the new terminal starts operation, he said.

Mr Nair also said he only saw media reports about a new airport coming up at Noida and added that he expected the Centre to consult DIAL before considering any such proposal.

Meanwhile, the two day annual aviation conference of the Asia Pacific region concluded on Thursday with the presentation of awards.