The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation has
renewed its interest in the Rs.3,900 crore Navi Mumbai airport project and asked
City & Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (Cidco) to
complete the preliminary studies for the same.
Accordingly, Cidco plans to engage an international
airport consultant to help in preparing the preliminary report and submit the
same to the Centre before 15 September 2001. Cidco has already initiated talks
with consultants like Mott McDonald, Lufthansa Consultancy, etc for this
purpose.
Once the Centre’s approval is sought, Cidco plans to
float global tenders to rope in a strategic partner to develop the project on a
build, operate and transfer basis. Cidco plans to hold 26 per cent stake in the
project, while the remaining would be held by the partner.