Sack the top management if AAI is not performing: Union

The government should remove the top management if the Airports Authority of India (AAI) performs poorly rather than handing over the airports to private parties, said a union leader.

"The government should send home AAI's chairman or the board if AAI is not performing instead of handing over the airports to private parties for management," S.R. Santhanam, president of the Airports Authority Employees Union told IANS Wednesday.

Santhanam and Saugata Roy of Trinamool Congress led the protest against the central government's move to privatise around 125 airports in the country.

"We have been delivering the goods. The AAI meets the performance criteria laid down by the government under its MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) signed with the management," Santhanam said.

According to him, if busy airports are handed over to private parties then AAI would find it difficult to raise funds to manage airports in non-busy areas, such as states in the north-east and other places.

He said AAI is not allowed to raise funds nor is the government providing them with the required funds.

Santhanam said with the limited resources, AAI has been delivering results.

"Please challenge us for non-delivery of results. After spending several thousands of crore of rupees on upgrading airports like Kolkata and Chennai why is there the need to hand over the same to private parties," he asked.