Wednesday, December 28 2005 18:35 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Cabinet Secretary B K Chaturvedi has sought Metro chief E Sreedharan's assistance to the high-level panel set up to evaluate the process of modernisation of Delhi and Mumbai airports.

Sreedharan's opinion has also been sought on the bidding process for the two airports, official sources said today (Dec 28, 2005).

A committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary was set up last week to evaluate the modernisation process after divergent views surfaced at the Inter-Ministerial Group entrusted with the task, forcing the empowered Group of Ministers to resort to this step.

Besides Cabinet Secretary, the other members of the committee are the Secretaries in the Ministries of Civil Aviation, Economic Affairs, Law and Member Secretary of the Planning Commission.

The committee has been asked to advise the eGoM, headed by Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, on whether the overall process was in conformity with the laid down norms for shortlisting and final selection of bidders or suggest alternatives, if required.

Six bidders, including a consortia led by Reliance and GMR groups, are so far in the fray for modernisation of the two major metro airports.

Two selected bidders would form two joint ventures with the Airports Authority of India to undertake the modernisation work at the two airports.