After years of delay, the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) is finally off the ground, with the GVK Group-owned Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) winning the financial bid for the ₹16,000-crore project. In the first phase, the airport is expected to handle 10 million passengers.

The project is being developed by the Maharashtra government’s City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO).

On Monday, GMR Group and MIAL submitted their financial bids. CIDCO spokesperson Mohan Ninawe said GMR had offered 10.44 per cent of the total revenue share generated by the airport to CIDCO, while MIAL offered 12.60 per cent of the revenue share.

Tata Realty and Hiranandani had also shown interest in the project but dropped out later.

An evaluation panel will prepare a report on the qualified bid, which will be sent to a Project Monitoring and Implementation Committee and the Maharashtra Cabinet for a final decision.

The project, spread over 1,160 hectares, is designed to be one of the world’s largest greenfield airports. It will have two parallel runways of 3,700 metres and full-length taxiways spaced with 1,550 metres between them, thereby facilitating simultaneous and independent operation of the runways.

The airport, which was mooted 15 years ago, has been on the drawing boards of the Central and State governments and CIDCO for the last 15 years. It has faced environmental and land acquisition problems. On November 22, 2010, final environmental clearance was provided by the Union Environment and Forest Ministry.

However, the project could not take off as villagers and landholders refused to accept the compensation. CIDCO continues to negotiate with 950 families on providing alternative accommodation and sources of livelihood.

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