THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The union cabinet on Wednesday approved the proposal for leasing Thiruvananthapuram airport through public private partnership. The state government’s demand on it was rejected by the meet. The cabinet approved the proposal for leasing out three airports-Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram for 50 years.

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said the airport will be developed with public-private partnership. The private sector was found through tender procedures. Javadekar said the company which quoted the highest amount in the tender was entrusted.

The cabinet had earlier decided to lease for 50 years six airports including Thiruvananthapuram airport. The contractors are required to pay a fees to the AAI based on the number of passengers. They will have the right to charge user fee from the passengers.

The cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved leasing out three airports of the Airports Authority of India, which comes under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, through Public Private Partnership.

However, the state government had earlier said that privatization would not be allowed and that steps have been taken to make the airport available under Trivandrum International Airport Limited (TIAL).