GoM to finalise AI-Indian merger plan: Patel

New Delhi, Oct 19 (UNI) The government has set up a group of ministers (GoM) to finalise the merger of government-owned Air India (AI) and Indian, civil aviation minister Praful Patel said today.

The GoM set up by prime minister Manmohan Singh to finalise the path for merger will be headed by finance minister P. Chidambaram, he said.

It will have representation from the ministries of civil aviation, defence, law, tourism and culture and company affairs besides the department of public enterprises and deputy chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

Meanwhile, Mr Patel warned the staff of both airlines to either perform or perish. ''I am personally not very happy with the way the two carriers are performing. Government support is only to an extent. Beyond this, the airlines would have to retain their standards of performance.'' The minister said the government will not remain a mute spectator to the goings on in both the carriers.

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