The redevelopment of Keshod Airport near Junagadh, Gujarat, has garnered significant industry attention, with 26 companies bidding for the civil construction contract. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) opened technical bids for the Rs 3.63 billion project, which aims to modernize the airport’s infrastructure, improve operational capacity, and support larger aircraft.
Key upgrades include a new 6,500 sqm terminal building, an extended 2,500m x 45m runway, a state-of-the-art air traffic control (ATC) tower, and an apron capable of accommodating three A320/B737 narrow-body aircraft. The project will be executed in phases, with Phase 1 focusing on extending and strengthening Runway 05/23, constructing a link taxiway, a 701m parallel taxi track, an apron, an isolation bay, a perimeter road, and an operational boundary wall.
AAI invited tenders for Phase 1 in December 2024, estimating the cost at Rs 1.61 billion with a 540-day completion timeline. Technical bids were recently opened, though one firm, Varaha Infra, was disqualified due to incomplete documentation. Prominent contenders for the contract include Ashoka Buildcon Ltd, Dineshchandra R Agrawal Infracon Pvt. Ltd., and Iron Triangle Ltd. The ongoing technical evaluation process will determine which companies advance to the financial bidding stage, where the lowest bidder will be awarded the contract.
Once completed, the redevelopment will enhance Keshod Airport’s role in regional connectivity, supporting increased passenger and cargo movement while improving Gujarat’s aviation infrastructure.
