Hindujas, Videocon in race for IA

NEW DELHI, FEB. 23. With the Tatas withdrawing from the race, only the Hindujas and Videocon remained in contention for a majority stake in Indian Airlines as technical bids closed today for the national carrier and Air India.

However, the Tatas with Singapore Airlines in its consortium remained in the fray for Air India. The Delta-Air France group and the Hindujas, who have roped in Lufthansa consulting for technical collaboration in both bids, also submitted technical bids for Air India even as Emirates Airlines withdrew, industry sources said.

A Tatas spokesman said the company had not put in the initial technical bid for Indian Airlines.

Videocon, makers of home appliances, has not revealed its consortium. The Indian partner for the Delta-Air France bid is also not known.

The deadline for receiving technical bids expired today. The Government had earlier extended by two weeks the time given to bidders to submit their final papers with their consortium partners in place.

Both the Disinvestment Minister, Mr. Arun Shourie, and the Disinvestment Secretary, Mr. Pradeep Baijal, are confident that the privatisation of the two airlines would be completed by June.

- UNI

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