CM Fadnavis hands Nagpur Airport to GMR Airports
Synopsis
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport in Nagpur was handed over from MIHAN India Limited to GMR Airports on 25 June 2026. CM Devendra Fadnavis, Union Ministers Ram Mohan Naidu and Nitin Gadkari presided. The transfer, years in the making after court delays, unlocks 2 new terminals and 2 runways to position Nagpur as Vidarbha's economic engine.
Key Takeaways
Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur was formally transferred from MIHAN India Limited to GMR Airports on 25 June 2026 .
CM Devendra Fadnavis , Union Minister Nitin Gadkari , and Union Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu were the senior officials present at the handover.
Tenders for modernisation were floated in 2018 ; GMR was found eligible in 2019 but the process was held up by High Court and Supreme Court petitions.
The expansion plan includes 2 terminals and 2 runways to handle increased passenger and cargo traffic.
Fadnavis said passengers should see 'unprecedented' facility improvements within one year .
The state government will provide land under MIHAN and MIDC frameworks to support GMR's development plans.
The Chief Minister's Office of Maharashtra announced on 25 June 2026 that Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur has been formally transferred from MIHAN India Limited to GMR Airports for modernisation, expansion, and development. The handover ceremony in Nagpur was attended by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
Context
Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis declared that the airport would emerge as 'the engine of economic development for Nagpur, Vidarbha, and central India.' He noted that tenders for the airport's modernisation were first floated in 2018, and GMR was found eligible in 2019. However, petitions filed in the High Court and the Supreme Court delayed the process until a positive judicial verdict was finally secured.
Fadnavis credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for backing the project and the Union Cabinet for granting formal approval, enabling today's transfer to proceed. 'या प्रकल्पाचा केंद्र सरकारकडे सातत्याने पाठपुरावा करण्यात आला' ['The project was consistently followed up with the central government'], he said.
Policy Backdrop
The MIHAN (Multi-modal International Hub and Airport at Nagpur) project was conceived in the early 2000s as a special economic zone and logistics hub anchored on the Nagpur airport. The Union Cabinet's approval of the Airports Authority of India's monetisation and public-private partnership framework in 2019 laid the legal foundation for transferring select airports to private operators, of which Nagpur is a significant addition.
The transfer fits a broader national pattern of bundling aviation assets with ancillary investments in defence manufacturing, Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO), and logistics corridors. Fadnavis highlighted that large investments are already flowing into the Nagpur region in maintenance command, auto-aviation, and defence aviation manufacturing — sectors expected to gain further momentum once the airport is upgraded.
Stakeholders and Impact
The airport's expansion to 2 terminals and 2 runways — prerequisites for scaling both passenger and cargo traffic — is now unblocked following the transfer. Fadnavis stated that within one year, passengers should see 'unprecedented changes in aesthetics and facilities.' The state government has committed to making land available under MIHAN and MIDC frameworks and providing all necessary support to GMR Airports.
Sectors expected to benefit include agriculture, tourism, and industrial logistics across Vidarbha and central India. The airport already has metro and road connectivity, and parallel work on enhanced connectivity to match the expanded airport footprint is underway, according to Fadnavis. GMR Airports Chairman G B S Raju was present at the handover alongside Members of Parliament Maya Ivnate and Praful Patel, MLAs Dr. Parinayfuke and Sameer Meghe, and Nagpur Mayor Nita Thakre.
What's Next
GMR Airports is now expected to move swiftly on terminal and runway construction, with the state government's land allotments under MIHAN and MIDC serving as the immediate enabler. The timeline for commissioning new infrastructure and attracting defence and auto-aviation tenants will be closely watched by industry and regional stakeholders over the next 12 to 24 months.
The coordinated presence of both state and central government leadership at the handover signals strong political will to ensure the project does not face further delays. As Fadnavis put it, the airport's rise as an economic engine for Vidarbha and central India marks 'an important milestone in the region's progress.'
Point of View
Making today's handover a tangible deliverable for both the Fadnavis government and the BJP-led centre ahead of future electoral cycles. The coordinated presence of two Union ministers alongside the Chief Minister signals that the project is being projected as a joint achievement of state-centre synergy, a template the ruling alliance has used effectively for large-ticket announcements. For Vidarbha, historically seen as Maharashtra's lagging region, the airport's upgrade is tied to a broader industrial narrative involving defence manufacturing and MRO — sectors that could diversify the region beyond its agrarian base. Whether GMR can deliver visible changes within Fadnavis's self-imposed one-year window will be the real test of this political commitment.
NationPress
25 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Nagpur airport transferred to GMR Airports?
The transfer is aimed at modernising and expanding Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport under a public-private partnership model. MIHAN India Limited, the state special purpose vehicle, handed over the airport to GMR Airports so the private operator can fund and execute the construction of new terminals and runways.
When did the Nagpur airport handover to GMR take place?
The formal handover took place on 25 June 2026 at a ceremony in Nagpur attended by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu.
What new infrastructure is planned at Nagpur airport after the GMR takeover?
The expansion plan includes 2 terminals and 2 runways to handle both passenger and cargo traffic. CM Fadnavis has said passengers should see unprecedented improvements in facilities within one year of the transfer.
Why was the Nagpur airport GMR deal delayed for so long?
After GMR was found eligible in 2019 following tenders floated in 2018, petitions were filed in the High Court and the Supreme Court, stalling the process. A positive judicial outcome eventually cleared the way for the handover.
How will the Nagpur airport expansion benefit Vidarbha?
CM Fadnavis stated that the airport is expected to become the 'engine of economic development' for Nagpur, Vidarbha, and central India by accelerating growth in defence aviation manufacturing, auto-aviation, MRO, agriculture, and tourism sectors.
