FCC

State Government to Reclaim Control of Five Airports from RADPL

2023-07-27

"The state government, as announced by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the Assembly, is set to reclaim control of five airports—Baramati, Nanded, Latur, Yavatmal, and Osmanabad—from Reliance Airport Developers Private Limited (RADPL). RADPL, a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure led by Anil Ambani, was initially awarded the airports for a 30-year period in 2009 with the responsibility to develop and operate them. However, presently, all five airports are non-functional.

According to Fadnavis, RADPL has neglected airport maintenance and has not met its statutory obligations, leading to the closure of Nanded airport. To resolve this issue, the government will engage with the advocate general to address the legal aspects of reclaiming possession of these airports. Additionally, the state government will clear all dues for the five airports and seek reimbursement from the firm.

The topic of regional connectivity was raised during the discussion, with Senior Congress leader Ashok Chavan highlighting that out of the state's 32 airports and airstrips, only 11 are operational, impacting regional connectivity plans. He also pointed out the challenges posed by limited slots at Mumbai airport for flights to major cities, hindering intra-state travel.

Responding to these concerns, Fadnavis assured that efforts will be made to secure more slots at Mumbai airport for major cities through high-level meetings with Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) officials.

Acknowledging the need for a centralized agency to oversee airport development, Fadnavis declared that such an agency will be established soon. Until now, the five airports under RADPL were under the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), while the rest were managed by the Maharashtra Airport Development Corporation (MADC).

Fadnavis also shared the government's plan to construct one helipad in each taluka (tehsil) and has formed a committee to assess the technical feasibility of suitable locations. The committee will visit all talukas to ensure sufficient space for helicopter take-offs."