The Hindu : National : Aerobridges: CPI(M) seeks clarification

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Saturday, May 27, 2006

National

National

Aerobridges: CPI(M) seeks clarification

Special Correspondent

AAI rejects Chinese company's bid on security ground

NEW DELHI: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has sought clarification from the Centre on the Airports Authority of India's decision to reject the lowest offer by a Chinese company to supply and install passenger aerobridges on security ground..

Rajya Sabha MP Tapas Sen, in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, said the Chinese company, Shenzen Cimac Tianda Airport Support Ltd, had offered to supply, install and commission 42 units of passenger boarding bridges (PPBs) at an estimated cost of Rs. 79.10 crore. But the offer was rejected on security grounds, leaving only one bidder, Thyssenkrupp, a Spanish company that quoted Rs.189 crore.

On May 9, he said, the Delhi High Court, after going through the files submitted by the Government, observed: "If it is really security perception, then this Court will be reluctant to interfere in the matter. But under the garb of security reasons it is also not open for the respondent to create a monopoly."

The same Chinese company was supplying PPBs to the AAI since 1997. They were installed at the Kochi, Hyderabad and Bangalore airports.

Mr. Sen said the affidavit submitted on behalf of the AAI before the High Court stated that after September 11, the security threat perception changed globally and a fresh categorisation of sensitive, hyper-sensitive and airports in border areas was done by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security. Hence, the AAI was within its rights to reject any tender for security reason.

He said the Centre must clarify how China was being perceived as a security threat, while sensitive/hyper-sensitive airports such as Delhi and Mumbai as a whole, including their operation and maintenance, were being handed over to private operators in collaboration with German and Singapore companies.

The security reason, if any, must hold good for the whole airport rather than only for aerobridges. The security perception should be clear vis-à-vis India's relations with other countries. "This cannot be left to the sweet will of BCA and Ministry of Civil Aviation."

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