JSW Group, Essar, BIPL, Essel likely to bid for Rs 9,000 crore Navi Mumbai Airport

Mumbai: A host of corporates, including the Sajjan Jindal-led JSW Group, Ruias-controlled Essar Group, Balaji Infra Projects (BIPL) and Subhash Chandra’s Essel Group are likely to bid for the upcoming USD two billion (Rs 9,000 crore) Navi Mumbai Airport project, informed sources at CIDCO (City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra). According to a report in Financial Express, CIDCO will hold 26 per cent equity in the airport project, while the private developer, to be selected through a bidding process, will hold the remaining stake. The airport, which will handle around ten million passengers per annum, is touted to be one of the biggest Greenfield airport projects after opening up of the sector to private players in 2006, and will be developed through public-private participation.

These corporates have infrastructure verticals in their respective conglomerates with investment interests in various projects including that of airport development. A senior CIDCO official mentioned that the bidding will take place in a few months’ time. Top engineering and construction consultant The Louis Berger Group is currently preparing a comprehensive master plan, project, procurement and other necessary reports to help finalise bids to be issued for selecting a strategic partner for developing the proposed project. The Louis Berger Group is an internationally recognised consulting firm that provides engineering, architecture, programme and construction management, environmental planning and science, and economic development services.