Flight operations across the country have remained unaffected but airport service have been hit by the agitation which started at midnight on Tuesday.

"I made a request on behalf of the Government and my ministry that the employees should come back to work and withdraw their agitation," Patel told reporters.

Patel said he had explained to the agitating workers that Government has "certain commitments" with the developers of the new airports and Bangalore and Hyderabad "within the framework of whatever is possible because the matter is before the court and there are contractual agreements also.

"Therefore, any concrete timeframe or assurance cannot be given and I have explained everything and appealed to them to withdraw their agitation."

Leaders of the striking workers said they would take a decision on the future course of action after consultations among them.

The minister said the employees were apprehensive that with the privatisation of airports, the financial viability of the Airports Authority of India would be jeopardised.

"I assured them that interests of AAI and its employees will not be affected. In fact, we will try to make AAI more profitable," he said.