GMR Group chief and Planning Commission deputy, Montek, smoke the peace pipe

New Delhi: After a sudden flare up that took the entire country by surprise, and also dragged institutions such as the Planning Commission and the ministry of  civil aviation into an acrimonious exchange of words in full public glare, it appears that the time may have come to smoke the peace pipe. It appears that the Planning Commission has promised to extend all help in easing problems faced by the developer, GMR Group, in developing the Delhi international airport.

The support was extended in a meeting last week between the GMR Group chief, GM Rao, and Planning Commission deputy chairman, Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

Rao, who met Ahluwalia along with other company officials, pointed out that Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), which is managing the airport, was facing a number of problems resulting from bureaucratic delays over which it had no control.

He also informed the Commission about plans to set up a temporary terminal which would deal with the growing passenger traffic at the international airport.

In turn, Ahluwalia passed on an assurance that the Commission will impress upon the government to provide adequate number of security personnel to manage entry points and other related services at the Delhi airport.