Tidco (Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation) has extended the time for receiving bids to identify a consultant to prepare techno-economic report for the greenfield airport at Parandur. The tenders were supposed to be opened on January 6 but have been extended by a month.
The consultant will carry out the study, prepare a report,and identify builders for the new airport in the 4,500 acres of the land already ear-marked for the project around 70km away from the city. Sources said that the time for receiving proposals from bidders was extended because the firm requested for more time because of festival holidays.
“All of them who took part in the pre-bid meeting asked for more time because of holidays during Christmas, New Year and Pongal is likely to slow down the work to prepare documents and other work,” said anofficial. The project has received a good response and the work will be done after carrying out all the studies, he said.
The consultant who will be selected will prepare a detailed techno economic report including traffic forecast, market assessment; aviation sector study; assessment of the project site including obstacle limitation surface study; preparation of an airport master plan; economic and financial assessment; environment and social impact assessment; obtaining of statutory clearances.
The government is planning to build a new airport that will have capacity to handle 100million passengers per year at ₹20,000 crore as the existing airport at Meenambakkam cannot be expanded any further due to constraints.