"We have shortlisted five expressions of interest for the expansion of Pithoragarh airport," said Civil Aviation Secretary P C Sharma.
All the five companies that were shortlisted have been asked to send their technical and financial bids within a month. The letters in this regard have already been dispatched.
Sharma said the government had also made a provision of Rs 30 crore for the expansion plan.
Earlier, the finance ministry has raised objections to inviting EoIs and suggested to the civil aviation department to go for PPP in Pithoragarh airport's expansion programme. But following a meeting of a high-powered committee, it was felt that no company would like to take up the project under the PPP mode and the EoI would only be the viable option.
Last year, the government received 12 expressions of interest (EIs) for the modernisation plans of Pithoragarh airport in the Kumaon region. The companies, which have applied through the EoIs, include the Mumbai-based Atlanta group and some local companies from Uttarakhand.
Sharma said he would not disclose the names of the companies. The government has so far spent Rs 22 crore on acquiring land for the Pithoragarh airport, which is being upgraded to facilitate the landing of 48-72 seater aircraft.
Under the modernisation plan, the length of the airport strip would be increased to 4,800 feet. A separate terminal building will also be constructed.
Meanwhile, the government is also interested in upgrading airstrips in Uttarkashi and Chamoli districts. All these airstrips are not suitable for the operation of 20/50 seater class of aircraft due to their location and surrounding terrain.
Plans are also afoot to construct at least one helipad in all the 13 districts headquarters in the state.
