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DIAL will be delighted with the strength of the bidding field, especially given the difficult economic climate |
INDIA. Five bidders submitted offers for Delhi International Airport Limited’s (DIAL) duty free tender at Indira Gandhi International Airport’s new Terminal 3 which opens in 2010.
Bids closed at noon today. According to reliable sources among the bidders, the companies are Dufry/Interglobe, Flemingo (bidding alone and not with its Mumbai partner DFS Group), Setur, Aldeasa, and Aer Rianta International in partnership with local company Indian Duty Free Services run by Deepak Talwar. If the latter partnership wins, Aer Rianta International-Middle East will run operations.
As revealed by The Moodie Report, the contract has been structured as a joint venture between the winning bidder and DIAL. A 15-year concession is being offered. DIAL will hold 49% of the joint venture and its retail partner 51%.
DIAL will be pleased with the strength of the bidding line-up, especially given the difficult economic climate.
There was last-minute controversy too as Flemingo Duty Free Shop filed a writ challenging the tender conditions. The company questioned the transparency, criteria and weighting of the evaluation process as well as the size of the security deposit.
Flemingo Director Atul Ahuja confirmed the writ (logged in the court today), saying the company had bid under protest and without prejudice. Another court hearing has been tabled for 25 July, he said – unless Flemingo is awarded the contract.
The decision to opt for a joint venture also caused some controversy in Indian media, government and airport circles. But it is understood that following a review the contract is likely to proceed along DIAL’s preferred lines.
The food & beverage tender for T3 closes at 6pm today Delhi time.
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An artist’s impression of how the new Terminal 3 will look in 2010 |
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Delhi’s bright new international gateway: Sleek lines and gleaming whiteness abound |
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*ABOUT DIAL: DIAL is a Public Private Partnership Initiative for the modernization and restructuring of Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, India. The DIAL consortium comprises GMR Group, Airports Authority of India, Fraport, Eraman Malaysia and India Development Fund.
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