CHENNAI: Ashok Gajapati Raju, Minister of Civil Aviation, admitted with candour that a city like ours, deserves a much better airport.
“Chennai is a prime city and it has not got what it deserves as an airport. I can understand that problems like incomplete engineering work and design issues cannot be changed overnight, but there is no excuse in not maintaining elementary hygiene. We are working towards it, but it will take time,” said the minister on the sidelines of an event in the city.
On the issue of privatisation of the terminals, he said that the ministry is yet to take a decision. “We will work out a strategy to improve the airport. The main concern is hygiene. The government is not enamoured with privatisation. But we are not against it completely. We have to work out some strategy,” he said. However, he noted and appreciated the improvements made on an inspection of the terminals. “Hygiene levels have improved but we cannot let it slide,” he said.
Talking about cargo-handling, Raju said that there were exciting possibilities. “I am happy that when cargo activity is not there in other airports, Chennai has become a leader in cargo,” he said.