Bhubaneswar: Union govt agencies are working on modalities to prepare tender documents for the proposed privatisation of Biju Patnaik International Airport. The move comes after a public-private partnership appraisal committee (PPPAC) accorded in-principle approval on Aug 4, official sources said.“After the in-principle approval by PPPAC, the next big step in privatization bid is giving go-ahead for the tendering process by the Union ministry of civil aviation. A tender will be floated simultaneously for the airports that are clubbed together in the privatization plan,” an airport officer said.Once privatised, the entity will take up more commercial ventures inside and outside BPIA to boost its revenues. Out of the 11 airports listed for privatisation, Bhubaneswar is one that is considered profit-making. According to Union civil aviation ministry, one management (player) will operate Bhubaneswar and another airport in Hubballi (Karnataka), which has been clubbed with Odisha. Earlier, Trichy airport was clubbed with Bhubaneswar.Officials said the initiative aligns with Centre’s goal to privatise these AAI-managed airports this year. The 11 airports together handle 10% of India’s domestic passenger traffic and 4% of total overseas passengers.According to BPIA officials, the average annual profit made by the airport in the past five years was between Rs 150 crore and Rs 170 crore.Earlier, speculation was rife that Zurich International Airport, Switzerland, is one of the key private players reported to be lobbying hard to operate BPIA. According to sources, govt is likely to seal the privatisation deal with it. Zurich Airport International, a subsidiary of Flughafen Zurich AG, which operates Zurich airport, has overseen construction and other operations of Noida International Airport Limited since winning the bid in 2019.The proposed privatisation, however, has invited sharp criticism from the opposition. “Earlier, the MMDR (Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill) and now the proposed privatisation of Bhubaneswar airport. Odisha’s BJP govt is handing over our valuable public assets to private interests. This proposal must be withdrawn and Odisha’s interests must be placed above all else,” Congress Odisha chief Bhakta Charan Das wrote on X.BJD MLA Dibya Shankar Mishra said leasing out a profit-making airport named after Biju Patnaik is deplorable. “Usually, govt institutions that don’t make profit are considered for privatization. BPIA is one of the most profit-making airports in India,” Mishra said.State transport minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena said Centre is planning to develop and manage airports and Odisha govt so far hasn’t received any specific communication from Centre on privatisation of Bhubaneswar airport. “The BJP govt will not take any step that is against the state’s interests,” Jena said.
