The privatization of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport at Nagpur is likely to see the light of the day as the five companies, selected earlier, will be submitted their bids on September 28 to officially kickstart the process. The company projecting maximum revenues to the airport would be selected and handed over possession of the airport within a month. MIHAN India Limited is supervising the process of bidding and transfer of airport to the private company.
MIHAN India Limited (MIL) was registered in June 2006 and it took over the airport management in August 2009. Eight years later, in 2017, the RFQ (Request for Qualification) tenders were floated and companies like GVK, GMR, Tata Realty, Essel Infra and PNC Infra were found eligible after the initial assessment.
The process of privatization of Nagpur airport was initiated several times earlier. However, it was pending since the airport was handed over from AAI to MADC in 2009. Even the new government took four and half years to start the process.
A new company with 74% percent partnership of selected private company and 26% partnership of MIL will be formed to execute this ambitious privatization project worth Rs 1,685 crores. The airport currently accommodates 20 aircrafts and this capacity will increase after its development.
The proposed works include:
. Development of second runway of 4,000 meters. 3,200 meters will be developed in first phase and 800 meters will be added in the second phase.
· The new runway will be suitable for landing and take-off of world’s largest aircraft A-300.
· New terminal building in 65,000 sqft area and 16 new parking spots.
· New ATC block, fire station and cargo building.
Process to take a month’s time
The privatization of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport will take another month’s time to complete the process after bidding on 28 September. The selected five companies will submit their bids to the office of MIL. The tenders will be evaluated on the same day with the help of advisors and the company projecting maximum revenues to the airport will be finalized. After this, the transfer of airport will take a month’s time.