Speaking to The Indian Express, Ahluwalia said: “I have been very concerned about the need to cut delays in projects. (In fact) we have speeded up processes very considerably”. He said that it’s the Public Investment Board that clears projects with the Planning Commission’s observations. These can be overruled by the PIB when it clears the project. Finally, PIB’s decision, along with the Commission’s views, is taken to the CCEA for final approval, he said.

Senior officials from the Planning Commission claim that they have just received Chennai’s modernisation proposal and the problem is that contiguous land is not available. On Kolkata, these officials claim, the Plan panel feels it should be modernized on a “modular basis” instead of creating a large airport. And that if this is done on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, money saved could be invested in upgrading airports in the North-East.