In November 2007, a total of 2,603 project-related tenders were floated with an aggregate value of work amounting to Rs.36,668 crore. Among the total tenders floated, 1,970 were by state government agencies, 595 by Central government agencies and the balance 38 were announced by the private sector.

Among the tenders floated in November, the largest one was by the Government of Uttar Pradesh. It invited global RfQs to develop the access controlled eightlane expressway stretching across 950 km from Greater Noida to Ballia, under the public private partnership (PPP) model. The expressway is expected to cost around Rs.25,000 crore and will be built along the left bank of the river Ganga.

Another notable tender was floated by the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Ltd. The Corporation invited RfPs to develop, finance, build, operate and maintain a mega shopping mall equipped with a multiplex, food courts, a family entertainment centre (FEC) along with a business class hotel and a convention-cumexhibition centre, on build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis for 33 years, in public private participation (PPP) mode, at Cuddapah in Andhra Pradesh.

The Roadways sector maintained its leadership in terms of number of project tenders, with 854 tenders being floated with an aggregate value of work worth Rs.28,338 crore. Irrigation, Community Services and Railways followed Roadways, with 352 tenders (Rs.903 crore), 343 tenders (Rs.1,072 crore) and 251 tenders (Rs.757 crore) being floated, respectively.

In November, we observed increased tendering activities in the Real Estate sector. In all, 109 project-related tenders were floated with an estimated value of Rs.1,373 crore. The state - owned Andhra Pradesh Rajiv Swagruha Corporation Ltd., alone floated 13 tenders, for construction of houses/flats, under Rajiv Swagruha project in Andhra Pradesh, at an estimated cost of Rs.715 crore.

In terms of number of tenders floated, Maharashtra topped the list with 568 projectrelated tenders worth Rs.1,463 crore. Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh followed the list with 286 tenders (Rs.2,153 crore), 247 tenders (Rs.660 crore) and 236 tenders (Rs.1,868 crore), respectively.

High value tenders floated by Airports Authority of India (AAI) and CPWD in Sikkim, helped the Sikkim state to gain by being amonsgt the top 10 tendering states. AAI invited applications to shortlist engineering consultants who would construct a new airport at Pakyong in Sikkim, at an estimated cost of Rs.226.55 crore. Central Public Works Department (CPWD) invited pre-qualification applications to construct roads including bridges, culverts, earth retaining wall and other appurtenant structures, under three different packages and at a total cost of Rs.193 crore.

Private Sector

The private sector saw 38 tenders being floated in November 2007. They were mainly in the Power, Hospitals, Real Estate and Oil & Gas sectors.

Abhijeet Infra Private Ltd., invited global bids for design, engineering, manufacture, supply, erection and commissioning a power plant, on EPC basis, for its 200 MW thermal power project at Khairi Khurd in Nagpur, Maharashtra.

Bharat Aluminium Co. Ltd. invited EoIs to construct a super specialty hospital at Raipur, and two primary cancer medical diagnostic centres, one each at Korba and Kawardha in Chhattisgarh.

Neelkanth Town Planners Private Ltd. invited bids from contractors to execute a multi-storied group housing project (Basement+14) 'Ourania' situated at Gurgaon in Haryana.

Expressions of Interest (EoIs)

In November 2007, 41 Expression of Interests (EoIs) were announced, pertaining to the Power, Real Estate, Community Services and Railways sectors.

Bihar State Water & Sanitation Mission invited EoIs for architectural and engineering design consultancy to construct a modern state-of-the-art residential training-cum-research centre at Patna in Bihar.

Ircon International Ltd., a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Railways, invited EoIs from Real Estate developers to develop and operate commercial properties in important towns/cities of India.

Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA) a state government agency, invited EoIs for a techno-economic feasibility study to be undertaken for the proposed air cargo complex at Patna Airport and an inland container depot (freight cargo station) at Fathua in Patna, which would provide export assistance and trade fillip to Food processing and allied sectors.

Empanelment of Consultants / Contractors

In November 2007, around 12 notices were published inviting applications for empanelment of consultants/contractors.

Employees State Insurance Corporation invited applications for the empanelment of architectural, engineering and project management consultants, to construct hospitals, dispensaries, offices and housing facilities across India.

Engineers India Ltd. invited bids for the empanelment of consultants required for large infrastructure works of housing and urban development, transportation, water resources, along with development of large institutional, marketing and office complexes.

Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation invited EoIs for the empanelment of consultants who would undertake opinion studies and demand assessment studies for the proposed land development projects in Andhra Pradesh, on public private partnership (PPP) basis.