PANAJI
GMR Airports Ltd, a wing of the Bangalore headquartered GMR Group has bagged the tender to design, build, finance and operate Goa s upcoming Mopa Greenfield Airport promising the State 36.99% revenue share once the airport is operational. Of the five eligible bidders only three submitted their bids with GMR Airports trouncing bids submitted by Essel Infraprojects Ltd along with a consortium partner of Incheon Airports and the Airports Authority of India. While Essel Infraprojects Ltd had promised 27% revenue
share, the Airports Authority of India promised 32.31%. Speaking to media persons after the process of opening of the bids Chief Secretary Sanjay
Srivastava has said that the first phase with a capacity of 4.4 million passengers per year is expected to be operational within 36 months in the
year 2019-2020. “One of Goa’s largest projects will finally see the light
of day. It was conceived more than two decades ago. The request for quotations was floated in October 2014 and the Request for Proposals was
floated in January 2015,” the Chief Secretary said. The companies which
didn’t bid included GVK Airport Developers Pvt Ltd and Voluptas Developers Pvt Ltd. The development of the second,third and fourth phases
will depend on when and whether the airport meets its capacity triggers.
“The moment the airport reaches the 80% of the capacity of that phase, it will trigger the construction of the next phase,” Director of Civil Aviation
Suresh Shanbhogue told media persons. The ultimate capacity of the
airport is to be 28 million passengers per year with while a minimum capacity of 13.8 million passengers will be required to trigger phase four of
the project. Construction of a six lane expressway connecting the
airport to the National Highway 17 is added in the scope of work of Phase I of the project. GMR Airports will also get 232 acres of land in the vicinity
of the Airport at 2.5 FAR ‘for unrestricted land use for commercial development’ and is expected to set up a massive
commercial centre. In addition the bidder will have to set up an aviation skill development centre at the ITI in Pernem and provide training
to local people during the construction period and beyond to enable absorption of trained personnel at the Mopa Airport as well as in the aviation sector elsewhere. GMR Airports will have to train at least 75 persons every year in various disciplines besides also assuring preference
for “Goans” in all jobs at the airport or in other areas through advertising this clause in all positions by the concessionaire. Besides this the concessionaire will have to also ensure employment to project affected persons in terms of the Land Acquisition Act. GMR airports will have to
pay a concession fee of ₹150 crore upfront to the government of Goa besides also 2% of the cost of the first phase or 36 crore as a performance security. GMR Airports will get to operate the airport for a period of 40 years after which the tender will be refloated. The existing operator to match his bid, if his isn’t the winning bid but is within 10% of the winning bid, with the winning bid and bag the contract. GMR will now be handed a letter of award following which there will be a signing
of a concession agreement between the Government of Goa and GMR Airports Ltd. The foundation stone is expected to be laid mid September
or October by the Prime Minister
