GMR Infrastructure Limited (GIL), which bagged yet another international project to build, operate, modernise and expand the Male International Airport (MIA), is looking at more opportunities to take its expertise in airport infrastructure outside the country.
GMR bagged the MIA project in a keenly contested international bid process participated by three parties: Aeroport De Paris, France-TAV, Turkey consortium, Zurich Airport-GVK consortium and the GMR-MAHB consortium.
With five airport projects in its kitty, including the latest successful bid, GMR Infra is eyeing new projects in the SAARC region, Western Africa and the Middle East.
It has already pre-qualified for the Madina Airport project. Backed by a track record of completing the Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport in Turkey last October and operating it successfully, and another new integrated terminal T3 in the existing Delhi International Airport, touted as the largest airport in South Asia and scheduled for inauguration on July 3, GIL is keen to explore more markets abroad.
“We are interested in both greenfield and brownfield airport projects as we have expertise in both the categories having commissioned the new International Airport at Hyderabad and modernised and expanded existing airports at Delhi and Turkey,” P. Sripathy, CEO, GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL), told The Hindu .
Upbeat over bagging the MIA project, a gateway to the idyllic Maldives, its second project in Maldives after it bagged the contract for the modernisation and operation of the Hanimaadhoo airport situated in the Northern Islands of Maldives, Mr. Sripathy said they would take over the MIA airport for expansion in six months after formal signing of consortium agreements and start construction immediately.
The manpower and project teams so far engaged with Delhi International Project were ready for deployment in Maldives.
The MIA project would have to be executed by 2014.
About funding, he said GMR had partnership going with Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad and would also tap international funding. MIA is a profitable boutique airport with its tourism potential and exponential growth in passenger movement and a high revenue model, Mr. Sripathy said.
