Nagpur’s long-awaited airport redevelopment project entered a decisive new phase on Thursday as the management and development rights of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport were formally handed over to GMR Group. The transfer marks a major milestone for the city and is expected to accelerate Nagpur’s emergence as a leading aviation, logistics and economic hub in central India. The handover ceremony was attended by Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, former Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, GMR Airports Chairman G.B.S. Raju and senior government officials.
Positioning Nagpur at the centre of India’s future aviation growth story, Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu described the city as the birthplace of the Aerotropolis concept in the country. He said the airport’s redevelopment would go beyond passenger services and create opportunities in cargo, manufacturing, IT, tourism, logistics and allied industries. Highlighting Nagpur’s strategic location at the geographical centre of India, Naidu said the city has the potential to become a major cargo gateway and one of the country’s leading Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hubs.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stressed that the project must be completed well before the proposed timeline and called for the airport to be developed exactly as envisioned in the plans presented. He said Nagpur’s central location gives it a natural advantage as an aviation and logistics hub and revealed that the state government is exploring a Free Trade Zone linked to aviation and MRO activities. According to Fadnavis, the airport redevelopment will create jobs, attract investments and strengthen Nagpur’s role as a key driver of economic growth in Vidarbha.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari recalled the decades-long journey of the project and said the airport is a crucial component of Nagpur’s transformation into a logistics and industrial powerhouse. He highlighted the city’s strong road, rail and metro connectivity, the success of the MIHAN project and the growing aviation ecosystem that includes aircraft maintenance facilities and aerospace manufacturing. With the formal transfer now completed, leaders across party lines expressed confidence that the modernization of Nagpur Airport will unlock new opportunities and help establish the city as one of India’s most important aviation destinations.
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