The Ambani brothers, Tata group, GVK Group, GMR Group and Larsen & Toubro are among the top players bidding for the greenfield Navi Mumbai airport, the second airport project in Mumbai.
International airport majors such as the Emirates Group promoted Dnata and Singapore's Changi Airport International are also eyeing the Rs 4,235-crore (Rs 42.35 billion) airport, which will be capable of handling the Airbus A-380, the world's largest passenger aircraft.
Reliance Industries Ltd and Anil Ambani's Reliance ADAG are scouting for international airport developers to float a consortium.
For RIL, an international airport has synergies with its upcoming Special Economic Zone near Navi Mumbai.
Meanwhile, Reliance ADAG is renewing its efforts to enter the airport development business following its abortive bids for the modernisation of the Delhi and Mumbai airports.
The Tata group has already signed a 51:49 joint venture with CAI for Navi Mumbai and other upcoming airport projects in India.
However, the GVK Group, which operates Mumbai International Airport, holds the first right of refusal for Navi Mumbai. If GVK's bid is within 10 per cent of the highest bidder's, it will be given the chance to match that figure.
Sources said the airport project will shortly get a final go-ahead from the Cabinet, after which global tenders will be floated.
