In an informal discussion with reporters here on Saturday, Ananth Kumar further said the centre has given an in-principle clearance to the international airport at Bangalore.``We have given the green signal and now the modalities are up to the Government of Karnataka and the Tatas,'' he added. Ananth Kumar said his ministry had agreed to a differential fee for the new airport in the ratio of 100:125. Traffic-sharing between the existing HAL airport and the new airport have also been worked out.

Initially, the promoters will be allocated 2,500 acres of land according to the fresh proposal and the balance will be held by thestate government. An equity structure with 74 per cent held by the promoters, 13 per cent by the state government and 13 per cent by the centre has also been mooted.

An integrated airspace management programme between the Yelahanka and Jakkur air force bases, the existing airport and the proposed airport has also been worked out, he added. The location of the project, which at present is Devanahalli, is a matter between the state government and the promoters, he added.

Once the modalities are thrashed out between the concerned parties, the proposal will go to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) and then to the cabinet. The proposed committee will coordinate and facilitate the procedure for early clearance of the project, he said.

He said the centre plans to disinvest in the Hotel Corporation of India and has already advertised for a global consultant to supervise the matter. The procedure may help the centre mop up around Rs 1,000 crore which can provide the much-needed capital to Air Indiato make it profitable once again. Subsequently, the government will consider disinvesting in Air India.

``We want to divest in both Air India and Indian Airlines within one year,'' he added.