Delhi airport upgrade may get nod, Mumbai's stalled

Contrary to speculation over how modernisation of Mumbai and Delhi airports would go forward, the committee of secretaries is understood to have cleared only Delhi airport for negotiation with the sole shortlisted bidder GMR, while recommending witholding formalities on Mumbai airport.

Speculation earlier was that the bidding process could be scrapped and quick re-bids be called for.

After deliberating on the recommendations of the experts committee headed by Delhi Metro Chief E Sreedharan, the panel, chaired by Cabinet Secretary BK Chaturvedi, is learnt to have disfavoured any re-bidding for the two airport projects, which is estimated to require an investment of Rs 5,400 crore.

Recommending that negotiations be held with sole qualified bidder GMR and endorsing disqualification of Reliance, the CoS is understood to have recommended to the empowered group of ministers (EGoM) that Mumbai airport could be included in the next round of bids to be invited for Chennai and Kolkata airports.

After the meeting of the CoS, the EGoM had met last week and sought some clarifications from the experts panel committee and is scheduled to meet again on January 24, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel had said and reiterated that the January 31 deadline would be maintained in awarding the contracts.

The CoS is also learnt to have recommended that the suggestion of the Sreedharan panel for adopting the special purpose vehicle route for Mumbai airport be examined by the Planning Commission with the civil aviation ministry.

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TAKING OFF

Panel of secretaries rejected proposals for rebidding

Negotiations may start with GMR, the sole shortlisted bidder for Delhi airport upgrade

Sreedharan panel suggested creating an SPV for Mumbai airport