CHENNAI: The city deserves a better airport and the ministry of civil aviation is planning to work out a strategy to improve its terminals and other facilities, minister of civil aviation Ashok Gajapati Raju said here on Monday. However, the ministry is yet to take a decision on privatisation of the airport.

"We will work out a strategy to improve the airport. The main concern is hygiene. Hygiene levels have improved but we cannot let them slide," said the minister. "The government is not enamoured with privatisation. But we are not against it completely. We have to work out some strategy," he said when asked if the ministry is planning to investigate the shortfalls in the construction of the facility. He also said the government is aware that a few airports that have been privatised are doing well.

"Chennai is a prime city and it has not got what it deserves as an airport. I can understand that problems like incomplete engineering work and design issues cannot be changed overnight but there is no excuse not to maintain elementary hygiene," he said on the sidelines of a function that he attended in the city on Monday. T

he minister had conducted a thorough inspection of the airport on Saturday. The check was done after the ministry received feedback that the terminals are not maintained well. Ministry officials visited the airport and took photographs of different parts of the terminals.

"A substantial amount of money has been invested in the airport, but the facility is deteriorating. I said in the Upper House that I would visit the airport and take steps to improve its condition. Around 75 photos were taken by my staff and I told the airport officials who were summoned for a meeting that the condition were unacceptable."

The conditions had improved when compared to what was captured in the photographs, he added. Raju said there are exciting possibilities in cargo. "I am happy that though cargo activity is low in other airports, Chennai has become a leader in cargo. If the government can integrate markets and the airport, air cargo can be increased," he said.