Newstrack

Boarding call for Navi Mumbai airport

EAW Staff

The Maharashtra government has kicked off the process of developing the greenfield airport at Navi Mumbai through a public-private partnership. State-run City & Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) has floated a global tender seeking requests for proposal for the appointment of a prime consultant to draw up a comprehensive master plan, detailed project report and other necessary documents. The Centre has already given its in-principle approval to the project, which is expected to ease overcrowding at the existing domestic terminal at Santa Cruz and international terminal at Sahar, which together handled over 22 million passengers last year.

Civil aviation minister Praful Patel recently said the proposed greenfield airport would come up by 2012 and have a capacity to handle nearly 55 million passengers, annually. It is to be located in the Copra-Panvel area, with 74 per cent equity participation by the private sector. The Airports Authority of India (AAI), the Government of Maharashtra and Cidco will hold the remainder. Nearly 1,140 hectares of land is needed to accommodate the proposed two parallel runways, with provision for full-length taxiways on either side of the runways. The airport will handle the largest general commercial aircraft presently in use and will be compatible with the International Civil Aviation Organisation's (ICAO's) Code 4E.

According to Cidco sources, the prime consultant will have to prepare a master plan for the airport and surrounding areas in accordance with international standards defined by ICAO and town planning norms, to meet the financial capital's growing aviation demand. The civil aviation ministry and Cidco have estimated a project cost of Rs 3,200 - 4,000 crore for the new airport.

Besides, the prime consultant will help Cidco in the preparation of procurement and transaction documents and assist in the bidding process.

Meanwhile, Mumbai International Airport (MIAL), a part of the GVK-led consortium that is modernising and upgrading Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai, has invited expressions of interest under international competitive bidding for programme management consultancy services. The programme manager will assist MIAL in all aspects of operation, maintenance and development of the airport renovation programme. According to the bid document, the "main objective of MIAL in engaging a programme manager/construction manager with similar experience in building airports of this magnitude in other parts of the world, is to leverage their expertise and experience on this project. The main role of the programme manager is to provide expert advice to MIAL in all aspects.