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GMR Airports has taken over operations of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur, nearly nine years after winning the concession. The move initiates a phased redevelopment programme featuring a new integrated terminal, a second 4,000-metre runway and expanded cargo facilities. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has set a 2029 deadline for the first phase, while the Centre aims to develop Nagpur into an aerotropolis and strengthen its aviation and logistics infrastructure.
GMR Airports has formally taken over the operations of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport in Nagpur, ending a nine-year wait since the company won the bid to operate and modernise the facility. The transfer was completed in the past week, marking the beginning of a long-planned airport redevelopment programme in central India.
The airport will be operated under a public-private partnership, with GMR responsible for upgrading infrastructure, improving passenger facilities and expanding aviation capacity. The redevelopment programme includes the construction of a new integrated passenger terminal, a second 4,000-metre parallel runway, upgraded cargo facilities and supporting aviation infrastructure designed to accommodate future growth in passenger and aircraft traffic.
During the handover ceremony, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu said Nagpur has the potential to emerge as India's next aerotropolis owing to its central location and expanding aviation ecosystem. He stated that the airport's redevelopment would support improved regional connectivity while contributing to economic activity across central India through aviation-led infrastructure development.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed GMR to complete the first phase of the airport's modernisation by 2029. He said the initial expansion should be delivered within the tenure of the present state government, underlining the importance of timely execution for one of Maharashtra's key aviation infrastructure projects.
The project is expected to strengthen Nagpur's position as a logistics and multimodal transport hub. The airport's location near major highway corridors and freight infrastructure has already made it an important centre for cargo movement, while the planned expansion is intended to improve operational capacity for both passenger and cargo services. GMR also plans to enhance airport operations through modern technology, improved passenger amenities and expanded commercial infrastructure.
The operational handover concludes a prolonged period marked by regulatory and procedural delays that postponed the concession despite GMR having secured development rights nearly a decade ago. With operations now under the private operator, redevelopment activities are expected to begin in phases, subject to statutory approvals and construction schedules.
The airport's expansion aligns with the Centre's broader strategy to improve regional air connectivity and develop aviation-led economic clusters. Officials believe the redevelopment will complement ongoing industrial, logistics and infrastructure investments across the Nagpur region while strengthening its role in India's aviation network.
Source: PIB
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