AAI to come out with new tender document for Jaipur, Ahmadabad airports

The government is expected to come out with a new tender document offering the operational and maintenance control of Ahmedabad and Jaipur airports to private players, a senior official said on Thursday.

The development comes after the state-run Airports Authority of India (AAI) was unable to attract any bidders for its Request for Proposal (RFP) for operation and maintenance of the two airports.

The operation and maintenance control was proposed to be granted for pre-designated areas of the two airports.

According to Guruprasad Mohapatra, Chairman of the state-run Airports Authority of India (AAI): "Talks are underway with potential bidders to understand their needs which will make the offer more attractive for them."

Mohapatra acknowledged that the government was even considering a proposal to "bundle airports" to make the bids more attractive for private parties and enhance the contract period to 15 years from the earlier 10 year concession time.

The AAI Chief further said that there was a need of second airports at major metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.

"Luckily Delhi has got the approval for Jewar airport and there is Navi Mumbai airport coming up near Mumbai... officials from the ministry and AAI have met the Tamil Nadu government for a second airport for Chennai," Mohapatra said.

He added that, in the future, land-pooling mechanism might become an alternate option to source land for airport development.

--IANS

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