In a major step forward for the Navi Mumbai airport project, Union Civil Aviation Ministry has cleared the revised tender document submitted by the state's nodal development agency CIDCO recently, sources said.
"A CIDCO delegation called on the Aviation Minister Ashok Gajpathy Raju early this week and resubmitted the revised tender document draft to him. The minister promptly took the decision on the issue (clearing the draft)," sources said here.
This paves the way for floating of tenders by the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) for the proposed airport, which was conceived some 27 years ago, they said.
"The revised document has brought significant changes which include holding of up to 26 per cent stake from the 10 per cent earlier by the airlines in the private consortium and allowing foreign airlines to participate in the bids," sources said.
In all, according to revised document, 74 per cent stake will be held by the private consortium, while CIDCO will retain the remaining 26 per cent.
The over Rs 14,000-crore airport project, has been held up due to issues relating to land acquisition and environment clearances and is already delayed by almost four years as CIDCO was to commence work on the proposed airport way back in 2010.
The project affected people (PAPs) from several villages had opposed land acquisition and also refused to accept various compensation packages offered by the state government.
However, after several months of hectic negotiations, PAPs finally agreed to the Maharashtra government's offer of 22.5 per cent developed land for every hectare acquired by the state government.
As part of the package, they are also to be provided one floor space index (FSI) for 12.5 per cent of the developed land and 2.5 FSI for another 10 per cent.
Once fully operational, the proposed airport will have the capacity to handle 60 million passengers every year.
