suraj@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Mopa airport appears to have hit rough weather with the date for finalising the financial bid extended for the second time in a month.
The State government on January 15 issued the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the proposed Greenfield airport at Mopa, seeking bids from interested companies to construct the airport. The four shortlisted companies were given 90 days, which was till April 15, to respond and bid for the project. However, the bid date was extended by a month to May 16, “on request of the bidders”, government officials say.
Officials now say, bidding will not be held even on May 16 as the companies have sought more time. According to officials in Civil Aviation Department, bidding will now be held on June 24. The four shortlisted companies include GVK, GMR, Essel Infra-Mumbai and Airports Authority of India.
Sources reveal the companies have expressed reservations over clauses in the bid document and hence are cautious before bidding.
“There have been several clauses like the training of local youth in aviation sector, etc, which is something new and unacceptable to the bidders plus there are also issues viz-a-viz revenue sharing with the
government,” sources revealed.
Director of Civil Aviation Suresh Shanbhogue, when contacted, refuted reports of any issues with the bidders. “The second pre-bid meeting was held on May 5, wherein the companies expressed that they need more time to submit the bid,” Shanbhogue said.
He added that the parameter for bidding is percentage of revenue sharing with the State government. “The company which quotes the highest revenue-sharing with the State Government will be selected,” he said.
Asked about the delay in filing the bids, Shanbhogue said, “Well, it is a 60-year agreement, which is a long period and it is justified to give them time.”
After Delhi and Hyderabad, Mopa could be the third airport that will be built, operated and managed by a private company.
The estimated cost to complete the Mopa airport, according to government officials, is expected to be Rs 3,000 crore. The airport will be built in four phases. By the end of the fourth phase, the airport will be capable of handling 13.5 million passengers.
