<p>In a sudden move, the government on Thursday removed Airports Authority of India (AAI) chairman R K Srivastava. He was appointed nearly 15 months ago for a five-year term.<br /><br /></p>.<p>A 1984-batch Jharkhand-cadre IAS officer, 58-year-old Ravindra Kumar Srivastava had taken charge in January last year. Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma confirmed the move to replace the AAI chairman.<br /><br />Sharma told PTI from Gorakhpur (UP) that the government will find a suitable replacement for Srivastava soon. However, Sharma did not give the reason for the decision to remove Srivastava.<br /><br />The move to replace Sharma comes at a time when the AAI has sought documents from its joint venture partners — GMR and GVK — for a CAG audit of the books of accounts of the Delh and Mumbai airports. This is not the first time that an AAI chairman has been shown the door.<br /><br />In January 2014, the then UPA government had abruptly removed V P Agarwal. Sources said Arun Kumar, who is presently joint secretary for airports in the Civil Aviation Ministry, is likely to be given the additional charge of AAI chairman. According to sources, Srivastava is likely to be sent back to his parent cadre.<br /><br />Srivastava took charge on January 2, 2015 and his appointment was announced by the government in December 2014. His tenure was for five years.<br /><br />AAI manages 125 airports, including 18 international aerodromes, 78 domestic ones and 26 civil enclaves at defence airfields. It also provides air navigation services.</p>
<p>In a sudden move, the government on Thursday removed Airports Authority of India (AAI) chairman R K Srivastava. He was appointed nearly 15 months ago for a five-year term.<br /><br /></p>.<p>A 1984-batch Jharkhand-cadre IAS officer, 58-year-old Ravindra Kumar Srivastava had taken charge in January last year. Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma confirmed the move to replace the AAI chairman.<br /><br />Sharma told PTI from Gorakhpur (UP) that the government will find a suitable replacement for Srivastava soon. However, Sharma did not give the reason for the decision to remove Srivastava.<br /><br />The move to replace Sharma comes at a time when the AAI has sought documents from its joint venture partners — GMR and GVK — for a CAG audit of the books of accounts of the Delh and Mumbai airports. This is not the first time that an AAI chairman has been shown the door.<br /><br />In January 2014, the then UPA government had abruptly removed V P Agarwal. Sources said Arun Kumar, who is presently joint secretary for airports in the Civil Aviation Ministry, is likely to be given the additional charge of AAI chairman. According to sources, Srivastava is likely to be sent back to his parent cadre.<br /><br />Srivastava took charge on January 2, 2015 and his appointment was announced by the government in December 2014. His tenure was for five years.<br /><br />AAI manages 125 airports, including 18 international aerodromes, 78 domestic ones and 26 civil enclaves at defence airfields. It also provides air navigation services.</p>