January 4, 2003	Saturday	Shawwal 30, 1423

NEW DELHI, Jan 3: India’s cabinet on Friday deferred by a month a decision to privatize four main international airports, a move which was expected to boost a flagging privatization programme.

“The issue has been deferred by a month. We have been asked to provide all details on what needs to be done to make these world class airports,” Civil Aviation Minister Shahnawaz Hussain told reporters after the meeting.

“This decision does not mean our plans have stalled,” he said.

The privatization of the four airports would have raised 160 billion rupees ($3.3 billion).

Sources said the ministry had proposed that government retain only a 5pc stake in the international airports at New Delhi, Calcutta, Madras and Mumbai, giving the rest to private firms.—AFP