Government may call bids for new Mumbai airport by year-end

New Delhi: The government expects to invite bids for a greenfield airport in Mumbai by the end of the year, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said on Monday.
"The land issues have been resolved. The government will now proceed for cabinet approval on bidding," Patel told reporters on the sidelines of the U.S.-India Aviation Partnership Summit.
The Navi Mumbai International Airport is to be built at a cost of 42.35 billion rupees on public-private partnership by forming a special purpose company.
Maharashtra's City and Industrial Development Corp. and the state-run Airport Authority of India will hold equity to the extent of 26 percent and the rest will be held by a private developer.
Air travel demand for Mumbai is expected to grow to 91 million passengers per year by 2030/31 from 20 million passengers per year in 2006/07, according to government figures.
The Mumbai airport is expected to become saturated by 2013, which has necessitated the demand for a new airport.
23/04/07 Reuters India

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Categories: Airports Apr 2007, New Apr 2007