UP extends deadline for int'l airport bidding

New Delhi/ Lucknow: Acceding to the demand of prospective bidders, the Uttar Pradesh government has extended the bidding dates for the proposed international airport at Kushinagar to April 10.
The proposed airport aims to unlock the Buddhist tourism potential in this backward eastern UP region, which attracts pilgrims and tourists from the world over.
Four companies — GMR, GVK, L&T and Gammon India — are in the fray and have already qualified the Request for Qualification stage.
“The companies had asked for more time to file their bids. Besides, by April 10, the central environment clearance would also hopefully come and we would be ready with all the documents,” UP Tourism Secretary and State Tourism Development Corporation Managing Director Avnish Awasthi told Business Standard.
The proposed airport, estimated to cost Rs 750 crore, would span 650 acres. It would be built on Design-Built-Finance-Operate-Transfer basis under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). The government owns nearly 100 hectares of land, while the rest would be acquired.
After seeking clarifications about the project, the companies can file the financial bids.
The department could hold another round of pre-bid conference for the proposed airport, he added. The last pre-bid conference was held in New Delhi on February 13.
16/03/10 Virendra Singh Rawat/Business Standard

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Categories: Airports Mar 2010, New Mar 2010