India's largest engineering and construction firm Larsen & Toubro (L&T) on Thursday won a Rs 5,500-crore contract to build a brand new integrated terminal for international and domestic passengers at Mumbai airport.
The new terminal, likely to be operational by 2012, would handle 40 million passengers annually, compared with 21 million handled by the existing terminal.
In what could possibly be the biggest engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract awarded so far in Mumbai, L&T will modernise and expand existing facilities, including airside and landside work on a turnkey basis.
GV Krishna Reddy, Chairman of Mumbai International Airport Private Limited (MIAL), the consortium that operates the Mumbai airport, said: "Over the years L&T has been associated with some of the most prestigious airport modernisation projects in India. We are sure that they would help us to give shape to our dream of making a world-class airport."
AM Naik, CMD, L&T, said: "We are happy for being chosen to create the largest airport hub in Mumbai. This is a step towards creating world-class infrastructure and making India a stronger nation."
For L&T, however, the difficult task of dismantling the existing international terminal and constructing a brand new one without disturbing existing passenger and aircraft traffic is just the beginning. Unlike Greenfield airports, redeveloping a busy airport like Mumbai is a daunting task. The airport is also land locked and has no extra space for expansion.
For L&T, however, the difficult task of dismantling the existing international terminal and constructing a brand new one without disturbing existing passenger and aircraft traffic is just the beginning. Unlike Greenfield airports, redeveloping a busy airport like Mumbai is a daunting task. The airport is also land locked and has no extra space for expansion.
The three terminals of the international wing will be demolished in phases; the first phase of the modernisation is expected to be complete in 2010.
While the airside construction includes taxiways, aprons, aircraft maintenance facilities, utility services and other primary infrastructure support facilities, the landside comprises a new multi-storey car park and access roads leading up to the terminal.