Tenders for the project were supposed to be invited by December 2007. With a delay of six months, these will now be floated on June 16.

The Airport Authority of India(AAI) expects that construction work will begin by July 2008. The authority has also conducted a global architectural design competition for the Kolkata airport terminals.

Out of the 11 global construction majors, who had approached the AAI, the authority has shortlisted six for the project. “AAI wanted to bring in the global expertise, but we also wanted Indian companies to gain experience. That’s why we have asked the international players to form consortiums, where they will hold 74 per cent equity, and an Indian company will keep the remaining of 24 percent,” said SPS Bakshi, Executive Director Projects, AAI.

The shortlisted companies include ITD (Hong Kong), Ssangyong (Malaysia) and M/s TAV Tepe Akfen (Turkey).

L&T, which has bagged contracts for modernising Delhi and Mumbai airports, is also in the race for the Kolkata airport. The AAI has already approved project consultants-- RMJM of Hong Kong with consortium partner Sikka Architect and Associates and Aeroport du Paris Internationale with consortium partner Virendra Khanna and Associates.