Saturday, June 16, 2007

Sikkim invites fresh bids for airport at Pakyong


New tenders will be accepted at both national and international level for the project

Kolkata: THE Sikkim government Cabinet meet presided by Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, cancelled previous tenders and invited fresh tenders for the construction of a airport at Pakyong today, to be built on a Private-Public partnership (PPP) model.
The state government instructed the roads and bridges department to engage a consultant to frame the terms and conditions, based on which, fresh tenders will be accepted at both national and international level for the project.

Delay in the project was due to shortage of funds, which is supposed to be provided by the Planning Commission and Ministry of Civil Aviation.
The Airport Authority of India (AAI) had taken about three years to make a detailed project report (DPR) in this regard. The total project cost is estimated at Rs 339 crores.
According to state government sources, the Civil Aviation ministry was still studying the feasibility of the project.
The state government has spent Rs 100 crores to acquire the land for the proposed airport after which it was handed over to AAI.
Sources said the the 12th Finance Commission has earmarked Rs 100 crores for the project.
However, the delay in the execution and funding of the project has forced the state government to look for alternative ways of making up for the delay.