Thursday, January 12 2006 14:29 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: With the restructuring and modernization process of Delhi and Mumbai airports going ahead, the Left parties today (Jan 12,2006)asked Government to keep various concerns in mind while proceeding forward, though they emphasized that there was urgency in modernizing these airports especially in view of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

The Left parties, which are demanding scrapping of the bidding process alleging 'conflict of interest' between two short listed bidders and the official consultants for modernisation process, raised several issues at the United Progressive Alliance (UPA)Left Coordination Committee meeting and warned the Government of possible litigations to stall the process.

"Privatization cannot be allowed in the garb of modernization, which is needed to decongest the two busy airports," Communist Party of India (CPI) Marxist (M) leader Sitaram Yechury told reporters.

Observing that the concerns raised by the Left in a note would be taken into account by the empowered Group of Ministers on the issue, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said "There is an urgency to complete the modernisation of these two airports. Having regard to the urgency, it was decided that the Government may take a suitable decision."

The Left parties have claimed that there was 'solid ground' for the Government to dismantle the process, alleging that financial consultant ABN-Amro was the 'joint lead Arranger' for shortlisted bidders GMR and Reliance, while a partner in the legal consultant firm Amarchand Mangaldass, Shroff & Company was once a member of the Reliance Board.

They have asked the Government to take note of the Parliamentary Standing Committee recommendations to construct two world class airports as greenfield projects and develop the existing ones through Airports Authority of India.