Cidco plans to foray into power generation

The City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco), nodal agency for development of the Navi Mumbai international airport, plans to enter into power generation to meet the electricity demand of the proposed airport and the population adjoining it.

The airport project, which entails an investment of Rs 14,000 crore, has aleady given a major boost for the development of realty and retail sectors in particular, as private entities are planning to build several residential and commercial complexes in and around the complex.

Cidco chairman Pramod Hindurao said today his company was assessing the demand for power for the proposed airport. Besides, additional power will be needed for highrise buildings, malls, other establishments and infrastucture projects in Navi Mumbai, Panvel and around, he told Business Standard.

The first phase of the airport is expected to be operational by end-2014, to handle 10 million passengers annually. After completion of the fourth phase, the airport would by 2030 handle 60 million passengers annually. Hindurao said Cidco was already engaged in the finalisation of requests for qualification, which would soon be offered to bidders for the project.

“It thus makes sense for Cidco to explore option of entering into power generation. We’ll consider details like size of the project, fuel and the project site once the consultants submit their report.”

A Cidco official later said a gas-based power project may be viable as the Panvel-Dabhol gas pipeline goes from the region.

A official at the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MahaVitaran) said MahaVitaran was currently able to meet the daily power requirement of 800 Mw in the Vashi circle, which includes Airoli, Nerul, Vashi, Panvel, New Panvel, Ulwe, Uran, Taloja and JNPT.

“As per the current estimates, the daily power demand is expected to increase by another 400 Mw in the next five years,” he said. “This is largely due to the upcoming airport. And the vertical development in Navi Mumbai and around — if the state government considers increase in the floor space index to 4 from the present level of 1. MahaVitaran is engaged in the upgradation of power distribution network considering all these factors.”

The official said Cidco has yet to provide details with regard to daily power requirement for Navi Mumbai airport. He, however, demanded that Cidco, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation and other municipalities would have to provide adequate land for development of power distribution infrastructure at the lower rates