"The Board (of the airlines) will meet shortly and take a decision to appoint a consultant. The Board of any one airline can take this decision. The Board will meet this month itself," he said.

He said the consultant would provide the roadmap for the merger and also advise the government whether the valuation of the initial public offer would be better for a combined entity or the two entities separately.

"We have to complete the process of merger in the 2006-07 financial year itself. That is the deadline and we cannot keep the issue open," he said.

Patel said the guidelines for mergers and acquisitions in the aviation industry have been prepared by the aircraft acquisition committee and the ministry would give its nod as soon as these were submitted.

He said best international practices would be followed while giving a stamp of approval to the guidelines. Asked about the fate of Alliance Air and Air India Express following the merger of their parent companies, Patel said the consultant would advise the government on this issue too.

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