A total of 11 companies have expressed interest in running the operation and maintenance (O&M) of Ahmedabad and Jaipur airports, the contracts for which are expected to be awarded by the end of May.

As we reported in January, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) launched a tender process to seek a strategic partner for Operation & Maintenance (O&M) to ensure highest standards of service in select areas other than city side and air side but including passenger terminal, car park, aprons and associated utilities of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at Ahmedabad, Gujarat and Jaipur International Airports, Rajasthan by entering into an O&M contract on PPP scheme.

The Authority wishes to receive electronic Bids from Airport operators for the O&M arrangement of the Airports with clearly defined roles and responsibilities and risks of each Entity in terms of undertaking O&M of the Airports and both the entities will then enter into an agreement to operationalize the arrangement.

To develop the Projects, the Authority intends to appoint an O&M Operator who shall be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Project under and in accordance with the provisions of a long-term operation and maintenance agreement to be entered into between the O&M Operator and the Authority.

The O&M Operator, is expected to implement global best practices and processes in operation & maintenance of the following facilities at the Airport:

• Passenger terminal building including the airport operations control centre, fire control room, kerbside approach road and passenger boarding bridges;
• Apron area (not including the apron areas of the cargo terminal), including provision of ground handling services through approved ground handling agencies;
• Surface car park;
• All terminal approach roads including movement area between the terminal building and apron area; and
• All other areas, structures, assets, equipment and machinery forming part of the Select Areas.

For further information, visit the following websites for the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport and the Jaipur International Airport contracts.