Govt explores tying up with Changi airport to manage airports in India

AAI signs MOU with Singapore Co-operation Enterprise for planning and development of Ahmedabad and Jaipur airports

India is seeking Singapore's expertise in planning and operations of airports. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that the government is exploring collaboration with Singapore's Changi airport to operate two airports in India.

He did not name the airports. However separately the Airport Authority of India signed a memorandum of understanding with Singapore Co-operation Enterprise to co-operate in planning and development of Ahmedabad and Jaipur airports. The MOU covers aspects including design, planning, traffic and commercial development, service quality and operations and management.

The scope of MOU can be extended to include more airports. The MOU was signed today as a part of Prime Minister's two day visit to Singapore.

In August, government has scrapped the privatisation of four major airports - those at Chennai, Kolkata, Jaipur and Ahmedabad. While the airports at Chennai and Kolkata will continue to remain under the complete control of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), fresh bids for the Jaipur and Ahmedabad airports will be invited from private players. These bids, however, would only be for operation and maintenance contracts, government officials had then said.