Cabinet gives in-principle approval for disinvestment of Air India

Agencies
June 29, 2017

New Delhi, Jun 29: The Union Cabinet has given in-principle approval for disinvestment of Air India on Wednesday.airindia

"In-principle approval for Air India divestment has been given," Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told a press briefing after the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said, "Individual units can go in the direction of privatisation. There is a possibility. Some have been identified."

"The Civil Aviation Ministry`s proposal for formation of a group under the chairmanship of the Finance Minister to decide the modalities of divestment process has also been accepted," he said.

Apart from Jaitley, the group will include Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and some other ministers to be decided by the Prime Minister.

The group will guide the process on strategic divestment and decide that the treatment of unsustainable debt of Air India and hiving-off of certain assets to a shell company, officials said.

The demerger and strategic divestment of three profit making subsidiaries, the quantum of disinvestment and the universe of bidders will also be taken up by the ministerial group to be headed by Jaitley.

Jaitley has in the recent past expressed strong views on the need to divest Air India considering that it had acquired heavy losses over a long period.

"There are many private airlines like Jet Airways, IndiGo, GoAir. If 86 per cent of the aviation market can be handled by private sector, then 100 per cent can also be handled by the private sector," Jaitley had said.

National passenger carrier Air India currently has a market share of 14 per cent and a debt of Rs 50,000 crore. The private airlines enjoy 86 per cent of the market share.

"Air India has a debt of Rs 50,000 crore. Its valuation of aircrafts will be at Rs 20,000-25,000 crore. The civil aviation ministry is exploring all possibilities," Jaitley had said.

Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha had also said that Air India`s debt needs to be reduced and balance sheet restructured as part of its financial transformation.

"Air India`s balance sheet has to be restructured and debt reduced. The other issue is that corporate governance and professional management need to be put in place. Besides it has to be seen how best use can be made of the non-core assets of Air India," Sinha had said.

In a recent report to the Civil Aviation Ministry, the NITI Aayog recommended strategic disinvestment in the loss-making Air India, by which government control would be transferred to a private owner.

Currently, Air India`s international network consists of 41 destinations across the US, Europe, Australia, Far East and South East Asia and the Gulf.

The airline`s domestic network covers 72 destinations, including far-flung areas of the North-East, Ladakh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

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News Network
February 7,2020

Bengaluru, Feb 7: Karnataka's Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services on Thursday issued guidelines for testing, isolation, hospital admission and discharge in view of the outbreak of Novel Coronavirus (nCoV) in Wuhan city of China, a virus that has infected nearly 20,000 globally and has killed more than 500 in China.

According to the guidelines, the sample of any passenger, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, with a history of travel to or residence in Wuhan city of China in the last 14 days, has to be collected and tested.

And the sample of any health personnel, who develops symptoms of the virus after being associated with the infected persons, has to be collected.

The circular further says that the clinical sample of any suspect/probable case of nCoV will be sent to the laboratory confirmation and the case will be kept in isolation. If tested positive, the treatment has to be provided as per the existing guidelines.

The virus originated from Wuhan, a Chinese city, in December and has since then spread to various parts around the world.

China has imposed quarantine and travel restrictions, affecting the movement of 56 million people in more than a dozen cities, amid fears that the transmission rate will accelerate.

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News Network
May 14,2020

Bengaluru, May 14: Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Former Union Minister and Congress Karnataka MLC, C M Ibrahim has, in a letter to Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, sought permission for the Muslim community to congregate at Idgah grounds and mosques to offer namaz together on the occasion of Id-ul-Fitr later this month.

"The Id-ul-Fitr festival in the state may be celebrated on the 24th or 25th May 2020, during which Muslims have to offer special prayers. On behalf of the entire community. I would suggest that the Government may take a decision by having due consultation with medical experts to grant permission for Muslims on the day of Id to offer prayers in the Idgah maidans or masjids from morning till 1 pm with all precautionary measures and safety norms," the letter states.

"In this regard. I request you to kindly look into the matter and after consulting the medical experts, take a suitable decision enabling Muslims all over the state to offer ld prayers at ldgah Maidans or Masjids in their respective localities," the letter added.

As part of its COVID-19 guidelines, the Ministry of Home Affairs had earlier directed states and Union territories to prevent social gatherings and religious congregations and ensure lockdown measures were strictly followed.

Comments

Sayed Noorulla
 - 
Friday, 15 May 2020

If Mr. Yediyurappa gives permission as reqested by Ibrahim, it will be adisastor for Muslims community, Saudi Arabia imposed , full curfew from 23rd to 30th May, 2020, this is  to avoid Eid gathering and spread of Corona Virus, our community should boycott such so called self declared leader.

 

Any new cases of Covid-19 cases will be blamed as Eid Jihad, request all our like minded people to protest this request.

Alert
 - 
Thursday, 14 May 2020

CM Ibrahim is just trying to attract media and public atttention. he is a useless politician. 

suhail
 - 
Thursday, 14 May 2020

Who is he?  What is he?  And what did he do to Muslim community and  who gave him the authorization to talk to the minister of behalf of Muslim Community

ahmed
 - 
Thursday, 14 May 2020

It will be disastrous for PR, and Joy ride for Atunab & sudir...

This Chadi people will be very happy and start calling this Eid Jeehad...

 

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News Network
June 18,2020

Bengaluru, Jun 18: Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has deployed a COVID-19 infection control "surveillance team" to look after travellers coming from other states.

Those coming to Bengaluru Urban and Bengaluru Rural Districts must undergo a 14-day home quarantine.

The Bengaluru Mayor today inaugurated surveillance team at Dr Raj Kumar Glass House.

Deputy Mayor Ramamohan Raju, Health Standing Committee Chairman Manjunath Raju G, Special Commissioners D Randeep, Manjunath, Superintendent of Police Mr Murugan and other officials were also present in the event.

There are 7,944 coronavirus cases in Karnataka including 2,843 active cases and 4,983discharged. 114 patients have succumbed to COVID-19 in the state. 844 positive cases were reported in Bengaluru Urban and 39 in Bengaluru Rural.

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