New Delhi, 13 May (H.S.):

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport in Nagpur is set to receive a new identity after the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved its modernisation and upgradation. The government has cleared private participation under the Public‑Private Partnership (PPP) model for the airport’s development, under which GMR Nagpur International Airport Limited will undertake the airport’s development, operation and management for the next 30 years.

With the Cabinet’s decision, the path is now clear to equip Nagpur Airport with world‑class facilities. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, announcing the decision, said the project is a key component of the MIHAN (Multi‑Modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur) initiative, which aims to position Nagpur as a major aviation and logistics hub for central India. The airport will be expanded in phases under the new plan, with a future capacity target to handle 30 million passengers annually.

Passengers will receive modern terminals and improved amenities, cargo‑handling capacity will be enhanced, and connectivity both domestically and internationally will be strengthened.

Vaishnaw said the project will promote trade and investment in the Vidarbha region and create new opportunities for tourism and employment.

Notably, in 2009 the Airports Authority of India and the Maharashtra Airport Development Company jointly formed MIHAN India Limited to plan the airport’s development and operations. In 2016 a global tender was issued under the PPP model to select a private partner, and GMR emerged as the highest bidder; however, the process later became mired in legal disputes that reached the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court. Following the Supreme Court’s decision, the concession agreement was finally signed in October 2024.

With the central government’s approval now in place, the modernisation and upgradation of Nagpur Airport are expected to move forward rapidly.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar