EGoM defers call on Mumbai, Delhi airports

Briefing reporters after the two-hour-long meeting, civil aviation minister Praful Patel said the IMG report on award of contracts was ‘‘inconclusive’’ and therefore had asked the IMG to come back to the EGoM with a conclusive report for the members of the EGoM to thereafter take a decision on the matter.

The EGoM was expected to open the financial bids and award the contracts for both Mumbai and Delhi airports.

The minister quashed the rumours of possible rebids for the airport modernisation contracts as he stated that ‘‘there was no question of this’’ and that there would be no rebidding for the two airports. Some of the bidders did not “qualify” through the technical evaluation phase leaving the government with limited choice of bidders.

After the submission of the bids in September this year, five bid for both Delhi and Mumbai airports and consultant Airplan rated each of the documents. Only two bidders were rated above the minimum qualifying points of 80 out of 100.

In that regard, the minister confirmed that “all (six) bids were alive” and said that there would be no change in the RFP documents (or bid parameters). He added that the international consultant’s recommendation will be given adequate weightage in the final decision.

While denying that today’s decision had anything to do with the Left Parties opposition, the minister said that the government would not miss the December 31 deadline for the award of contracts.