Pvt firms for airport revamp projects

Kolkata: Airports Authority of India (AAI), that fought tooth-and-nail to bag the Kolkata and Chennai airport modernisation projects, will only monitor its implementation. A private firm with a “strong balance sheet and sound technical experience” will carry out the actual constructions.
“AAI will appoint the best in business for the turnkey projects to modernise Kolkata and Chennai airports. Instead of grappling with 16-17 contracts like civil engineering and electrical, the effort will be to award one large contract.
Expressions of interest will be invited in September. Technical and financial bids will follow,” civil aviation secretary Ashok Chawla said on Saturday, after a two-day review of the Kolkata airport.
Sources in AAI said several firms, all joint ventures between Indian and foreign companies, had expressed interest in the twin projects. While the Indian partner will meet the financial norms, its foreign collaborator will bring to the table technical expertise and experience. AAI will simply oversee the project implementation.
24/06/07 Times of India

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Categories: Airports Jun 2007