Five agencies, including majors in global advisory and audit services, have bid for the feasibility study for the Aeropolis project to be created around the Thiruvananthapuram international airport.
The agencies — Mott Macdonald Pvt., L&T Ramboll, Knight Frank India, KPMG, and Ernst & Young — made their presentations on the project put forward by the Airports Authority of India at a meeting here on Wednesday.
Based on the presentations and technical and financial bids of these firms, official sources said, an agency will be shortlisted soon for carrying out the feasibility study.
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The Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) has been appointed nodal agency by the government for the project, initiated by the State Planning Board on the basis of a proposal put forward by Airport Director V.N. Chandran, to develop the airport into a multi-modal hub.
Principal Secretary, Transport (Aviation), Tom Jose, holding the charge of KSIDC Managing Director, Planning Board member G. Vijayaraghavan, Mr. Chandran, and others reviewed the presentations.
Official sources said the firms had come up with interesting ideas about the project and consideration would be given in the evaluation for adhering to the central theme.
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Project proponents wanted the multi-modal hub to be an integral part of Aeropolis and would link the airport with five modes of transport — sea, rail, road, inland waterway, and air.
Aeropolis, an inclusive growth concept, envisages economic intervention and creation of a common platform for all aviation-related activities of the major industrial and information technology units in the vicinity of the airport.
Presence of the VSSC, BrahMos Aerospace, Technopark, and the Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) unit of Air India near the airport are pluses for the project. The government is looking into the possibility of establishing a special purpose vehicle for the project.
The sources said the selected agency would be asked to submit a feasibility report in three months.