A host of corporates,i ncluding 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 $2 billion (Rs 9,000 crore) Navi Mumbai airport project, say sources at CIDCO (City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra) as per a report in the Financial Express.

CIDCO will hold 26% 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 10 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 invarious projects including that of airport development. A senior CIDCO official told that the bidding will take place in a few months time. He further said that top engineering and construction consultant 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, program and construction management, environmental planning and science, and economic development services.

A spokesperson at the Essar Group said, "As a group, we keep on looking at growth opportunities in sectors in which we are. We can't comment on any specific proposal.” JSW, however, declined to comment on the matter. Vishal Kalantari, director,BIPL said, “We have interests in infrastructure related projects and we are certainly keen to analyse the finer details of this particular project. However, the revised plan, costing and other details have yet to come out. We shall bid for it, if it is a fair opportunity for us.”

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