GMR charts Rs 300 crore makeover for Nagpur airport, targets 30 million annual flyers

New Delhi/Nagpur: GMR Airports on Wednesday unveiled a multi-phase expansion and modernisation plan for the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport in Nagpur, committing an initial investment of Rs 300 crore to upgrade existing infrastructure and laying out a long-term roadmap to increase the airport's annual passenger handling capacity to 30 million.

The announcement comes weeks after GMR Airports formally took over operations of the airport under a long-term concession agreement.

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Addressing a press conference, GMR Group Executive Director and Chief Innovation Officer SGK Kishore said the acquisition strengthens the company's footprint in India's fast-growing aviation sector and positions Nagpur as a key aviation and logistics gateway for central India.

As part of the first phase of development, spanning the next eight years, GMR will focus on improving passenger experience, expanding operational capacity and creating infrastructure to support future growth. Immediate upgrades worth about Rs 300 crore will be undertaken at the existing airport.

According to the company, the phased expansion plan aims to raise passenger handling capacity from the current three million passengers annually to 30 million over the 30-year concession period, with the potential to scale up further to 50 million passengers within the available land parcel.

The company also plans to develop Nagpur into a major cargo and logistics hub by leveraging its strategic location at the geographical centre of India and its proximity to the Multi-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur (MIHAN). The airport is expected to achieve a long-term cargo handling capacity of 150,000 metric tonnes per year.

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Of the 1,000 hectares allotted to GMR Nagpur International Airport Limited (GNIAL), nearly 100 hectares have been earmarked for an Aerocity project, which will integrate aviation, logistics, hospitality and retail infrastructure to support the airport's commercial ecosystem.

Nagpur Airport CEO Shrikanth Bhandarkar said the first phase, to be completed within 12 to 18 months, will include refurbishment of the existing terminal, upgrades to airside and landside facilities, additional check-in counters, self-service kiosks and other passenger amenities.

The second phase, scheduled for years three and four, will focus on capacity expansion through the construction of a new integrated passenger terminal with an initial annual capacity of four million passengers, additional aircraft parking stands, a new cargo terminal with an annual handling capacity of 20,000 metric tonnes, and expanded parking facilities.

The third phase, planned for years five to eight, will include construction of a second runway, a new Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower, a technical building and other critical infrastructure aimed at supporting long-term growth and improving operational resilience.

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"Our vision for Nagpur Airport is to build a future-ready and sustainable aviation hub that enhances regional connectivity while delivering a smarter and more seamless travel experience," Kishore said, adding that the expansion would also focus on reducing the airport's environmental footprint and strengthening infrastructure for future demand.

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