COVID-19 disrupts govt’s sell-off plans
THE Market disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic has forced the government to extend bid deadlines multiple times for its showpiece privatisation programmes of BPCL and Air India, while stake sale of other state-owned companies are also facing delays. This will affect the disinvestment targets for the current year, as big-ticket stake sales may take time to materialise.
The Finance Ministry on Wednesday extended the deadline for submission of expression of interest (EOI) for its strategic stake sale in BPCL for the third time to September 30. The deadline to bid for purchasing government’s stake in Air India was also extended for the third time till August 31.
