The Inter-Ministerial Group on restructuring of Delhi and Mumbai airports asked global consultant ABN-AMRO to shortlist the bidders, ten of whom have expressed interest in modernising these airports, by Thursday.
The list of shortlisted bidders would then be forwarded by the IMG to the empowered Group of Ministers, headed by Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, which is likely to meet before the Parliament session resumes after recess, official sources said.
The IMG, which met in New Delhi on Wednesday, laid down the criteria for shortlisting of the bidder-consortia and asked ABN-AMRO to study their technical capabilities as well as their experience in managing airports, they said.
Ten leading Indian corporates and foreign investment and airport companies, including Reliance, Bharti and Videocon, have entered the race for modernisation of Delhi and Mumbai airports.
The issue has created a political turmoil with the Left parties and trade unions opposing any move by the United Progressive Alliance government to "privatise" these airports.