Source: Kantipuronline

Oct 12 - After failing to attract investors to develop and operate four airports under the Build-Own-Operate and Transfer (BOOT) scheme by its first tender, the government has once again called bids for the purpose. "As we could not receive bids fulfilling our requirements in the first tender, we decided to re-tender," said an official at the Ministry of Culture, Civil Aviation and Tourism (MoCCAT).

Earlier, the government had invited tenders to operate four airports under the Infrastructure Development and Operation by Private Investment Ordiannce-2004, which include Gautam Buddha Airport, Bhairahawa, Pokhara Airport, Dharan Airport and Dhangadhi Airport.

He said that through Yeti Incorporate submitted tenders for Pokhara and Dharan airports, it could not meet all the criteria set for the bids. "However, the government received no bid for the remaining airports, though some companies had submitted letter of intent," said Yagya Gautam, joint secretary at the MoCCAT.

He, however, expressed optimism that new offer will attract investors to operate these airports under the BOOT. "In case the government does not receive bids even during the second tender, it may decide on the grounds of mutual agreement to allow ‘capable’ company to operate airports," he said.

As per the government’s tender, Pokhara Airport must be developed as a regional international airport, while Short Take Off and Landing (STOR) type of airport have to be constructed in Dharan. The existing Dhangadhi Airport and Gautam Buddha Airport should be developed and extended as per the criteria set forth by the government.

The investors are also required to blacktop the runway of these airports apart from Dharan. In addition, the airports in Pokhara and Bhairahawa should be in position to offer landing facilities to Boeing 757. In case of the airports at Dharan and Dhangadhi, the runways should be able to land Doneir 228 and ATR 72 aircraft.

The government had also fixed the other minimum standard and equipment to be stalled in the airports, under which all the airports should be capable to let the aircraft to land and take off even during the bad weather periods.

Under the BOOT concept, the investing companies will be allowed to operate these airports for a period of 35 years, and ownership will be automatically transferred to the government then.

Talking to the Post, an official said that as the construction of airports require huge investment and yield relatively low returns, private sector has expressed reluctant to invest in the airports. "Chances are higher that the government will be unable to get investors even this time," he said.