L&T wins ₹14,000-cr airport project in Mumbai

Larsen & Toubro (L&T)is all set to win a contract from the board of City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) to build the Navi Mumbai Intl' Airport involving an investment of ₹14,000 crore.. The scope of work covers cut and fill works, construction of terminal, airfield works including runway, apron, ancillary buildings, multi-level car park etc. L&T is the project contractor for ongoing expansion works at Bengaluru, Delhi, and Hyderabad airports. The Navi Mumbai airport has been plagued by delays and cost escalations over land acquisition and environmental issues. The first phase of the project cost is being funded through equity investment and Rs.10,300-crore long-term debt. While the state hopes the airport will be ready by mid-2020, one of the first tasks of the contractor will be to raise the ground level to 8.5 metres and laying of utilities before construction of runway and other infrastructure. The pre-development work began in June 2017, which included flattening a hillock, reclaiming marsh land and diverting a river. CIDCO, which has been carrying out this work, has increased the land level to 5.5 metres; the Ulwe river has been diverted outside the airport boundary; and the channel widened to 60 metres.