Setback to hand over AAI airports to pvt parties

Government's move to hand over airports developed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to private parties suffered a minor setback with the date for sale of bid documents for Chennai airport being postponed by ten days.
The private parties, which were interested in participating in the operation, management and transfer of this airport and wanted to submit the Requests for Qualification (RFQ), can now do so by November four, official sources said. The earlier deadline was October 17.
The bid documents would be on sale from November four, instead of October 25 fixed earlier.
Similarly, the date for submission of RFQ for Lucknow airport is also likely to be shifted to early November from October 28, they said. The fresh date could not be ascertained immediately.

It is understood that the delay has been caused by legal and technical problems that have cropped up in finalisation of the concession agreements that has to be signed between AAI and the selected private entities.
For Chennai, the sale of bid documents would now begin on November 4 and the date of submission would be December 23, instead of December 18 fixed earlier.
The letter of award of the concession to the selected private party would be within 30 days of December 23, while it would be signed between the selected party and the AAI in the next 30 days.

Several private firms, like IL&FS Transportation Networks, Essar Projects India, Cochin International Ltd, Essel Infraprojects Ltd, GVK, Fraport, Saudi Arabia, GMR Airports Ltd, Sahara Group and Turkish firm Celebi Habacilik Holding AS, had shown interest in participating in the Chennai airport project. Their representatives had also visited the airport for site inspection last week.