Nagpur Airport handed over to GMR Aero in presence of CM Fadnavis
Synopsis
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport in Nagpur was formally transferred from MIHAN India Limited to GMR Aero on 25 June 2026, in a ceremony attended by CM Devendra Fadnavis, Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Ram Mohan Naidu, and senior civic leaders, continuing India's airport privatisation push.
Key Takeaways
Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur was handed over from MIHAN India Limited to GMR Aero on 25 June 2026 .
The ceremony was held at 10:50 am in Nagpur and was attended by CM Devendra Fadnavis , Union Minister Nitin Gadkari , and Union Minister of Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu .
GMR Airports Chairman G B S Raju was present, along with Nagpur Mayor Neeta Thakre and Deputy Mayor Leela Hathibed .
The transfer marks a shift from a state-backed special purpose vehicle to a private airport operator with an established national portfolio.
The handover continues India's long-running policy of extending airport public-private partnerships beyond major metro cities.
The Vidarbha region's air connectivity and cargo logistics outlook is expected to be a key focus under the new management.
The Chief Minister's Office of Maharashtra announced on 25 June 2026 that Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur has been formally handed over from MIHAN India Limited to GMR Aero, marking a significant shift in the airport's management to a private operator. The ceremony, held at 10:50 am in Nagpur, was attended by senior political and civic leaders from both the state and central governments.
Context
The handover event was presided over by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, and Union Minister of Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu. Also present were MP Maya Ivnate, MP Praful Patel, MLC Dr. Parinay Fuke, MLA Sameer Meghe, Nagpur Mayor Neeta Thakre, Deputy Mayor Leela Hathibed, and GMR Airports Chairman G B S Raju, along with other dignitaries. The official post described the event as a formal 'handing over and taking over' ceremony, signalling a clean transfer of operational responsibility.
Policy Backdrop
The MIHAN (Multi-modal International Hub Airport at Nagpur) project was conceived in the early 2000s to develop Nagpur into a central Indian aviation and logistics hub, with MIHAN India Limited serving as the special purpose vehicle overseeing airport operations. India's broader airport privatisation push, which gained momentum after the 2006 award of Delhi Airport operations to a GMR-led consortium, has progressively extended public-private partnerships beyond metro cities to tier-2 and tier-3 centres. The transfer of Nagpur airport to GMR Aero — a subsidiary of GMR Airports Limited with an established portfolio of Indian airports — follows this established national framework.
Stakeholders and Impact
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport is the primary air gateway for Nagpur and the wider Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, serving air passengers, regional businesses, and cargo operators. Private management by GMR Aero is expected to bring specialised operational expertise and capital investment capacity to the airport. Civic leaders including the Nagpur Mayor and Deputy Mayor were present at the ceremony, reflecting the significance of the transition for the city's economic and connectivity ambitions.
What's Next
Attention will now turn to GMR Aero's capital expenditure commitments, planned infrastructure upgrades, new route additions, and passenger traffic targets at Nagpur over the coming months. The involvement of Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, who oversees national aviation policy and airport modernisation, signals continued central government focus on the project. The Nagpur handover is likely to be watched as a benchmark for similar transfers of state-managed airports to private operators elsewhere in India.
Point of View
Including the Civil Aviation Minister, underscores a coordinated Centre-state push to demonstrate governance delivery in Vidarbha, a region that has historically demanded greater economic attention. For GMR Airports, adding Nagpur deepens its tier-2 city footprint and positions the group as the dominant private airport operator in central India. The real test will be whether capital commitments and new routes materialise quickly enough to justify the political weight placed on this handover.
NationPress
25 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who took over Nagpur airport from MIHAN India Limited?
GMR Aero, a subsidiary of GMR Airports Limited, took over the operations of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur from MIHAN India Limited on 25 June 2026.
Why was Nagpur airport transferred to GMR Aero?
The transfer follows India's established policy of handing airport management to specialised private operators under public-private partnerships, a model that has been applied to major airports since 2006 to improve capacity and service quality.
Who attended the Nagpur airport handover ceremony?
The ceremony was attended by CM Devendra Fadnavis, Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, MPs Maya Ivnate and Praful Patel, Nagpur Mayor Neeta Thakre, Deputy Mayor Leela Hathibed, and GMR Airports Chairman G B S Raju, among others.
What is MIHAN India Limited?
MIHAN India Limited is a special purpose vehicle set up in the early 2000s to develop and manage Nagpur's airport and surrounding multi-modal logistics hub, known as the MIHAN project.
What does the GMR Aero takeover mean for Nagpur passengers?
Under GMR Aero's management, passengers and businesses in Nagpur and the Vidarbha region can expect potential infrastructure upgrades, new route additions, and improved airport services, though specific commitments are yet to be publicly announced.
