New Delhi: The Civil Aviation Ministry (CAM) will early next month elicit the views of bidders for modernisation of Delhi and Mumbai airports before finalising the draft to invite final technical and financial proposals from them, Aviation Secretary Ajay Prasad said today (Nov 29, 2004).

"Our technical advisors are preparing detailed financial drafts as part of an information memorandum to be given to the short-listed parties to enable them to file their technical and commercial bids," Prasad told aviation chiefs of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation) nations at a conference organised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in New Delhi.

"We are inviting them early December to a free-bid conference to enable them to give their views," he said. Asked to give a time frame for completion of the modernisation projects for the two airports, he said, "We have already started the work of re-structuring Delhi and Mumbai airports and are contemplating having a parallel runway in these airports. I believe that by 2007 you will get modern airports."

Asked about the status of Air India's proposed fleet acquisition, Prasad said the Civil Aviation Ministry has asked the management to complete price evaluation at the earliest so as to get the Finance Ministry's nod expeditiously. AI Board had recently decided to acquire 50 aircraft.