Let private players with land build new airports: Patel

New Delhi, Feb 17 (UNI) To overcome problems relating to land acquisition, the civil aviation ministry has suggested that private entrepreneurs, who possess the required amount of land, be allowed to build greenfield airports in the country.

Asking the finance ministry and the Planning Commission to revisit the policy on airports, civil aviation minister Praful Patel said land acquisition for special economic zones is facing major hurdles at present.

''The problem is how do we allot new airports to different states or develop infrastructure, without acquiring land. If entrepreneurs can get the land with the support of the local people, this will help solve the problem,'' said Mr Patel.

He said there is a need to revisit the policy on airports as almost every airport expansion project is facing problems relating to land acquisition.

Mr Patel said this after UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi laid the foundation stone for construction of a new integrated terminal and the third runway at Indira Gandhi International Airport here.

UNI