GUWAHATI: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has once again asserted that there will be no change in the name of Guwahati's Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport after its privatization.
Biswa Sarma made the assertion after meeting Jeet Adani of the Adani Group. He said that authorities of the Adani Group have no intention of changing the name of the Guwahati Airport and has also expressed the same to the Chief Minister.
Immediately after meeting Adani, Biswa Sarma tweeted, "Met Sri Jeet Adani, Promoter, Airports @AdaniOnline today. During discussions, I clearly told that name of Guwahati Airport will always remain as Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi Airport. Sri Adani assured that & further committed to develop this as among the best airports in India".
This comes amid a controversy over the alleged change of name of Guwahati airport. Opposition parties, student and youth organisations have been protesting against handing over the Guwahati airport to the Gujarat-based Adani Group.
A controversy erupted over the facility's name after an advertisement was published in some newspapers here on Tuesday and Wednesday
The advertisement was issued by the Adani Guwahati International Airport Limited (AGIAL) inviting bids for some non-aeronautical services at the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (LGBIA) in the name of in the name of Adani International Airport.
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The airport is named after Gopinath Bardoloi, the first chief minister of Assam, who was also awarded the Bharat Ratna.
On August 19 last year, the Union Cabinet had accorded its approval for leasing of three AAI airports -- Guwahati, Jaipur and Thiruvananthapuram -- for operation, management, and development to Adani Enterprises for 50 years.
Meanwhile, a nine-member team of the Adani Group on August 9 started the "Observation Period" at the LGBIA, marking the gradual takeover of the Northeast's foremost airport.
The Concession Agreement between the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Adani Group was signed on January 19 this year in New Delhi.
The AGIAL will take over the charge of the LGBIA in October this year.
Land near the airport has also been leased out to the private company for a period of 50 years in order to develop aviation-related business and facilities.
In 2018, the Centre leased out six AAI airports -- Guwahati, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram, and Mangaluru -- for operation, management and development under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
The Adani group had emerged as the successful bidder for all the six airports.