NAGPUR. The Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport in Nagpur has been officially handed over to the GMR Group under a Public-Private Partnership model during a high-profile event attended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu, and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. Speaking at the event, Civil Aviation Minister Naidu stated that with advanced Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul facilities alongside an expansive cargo hub, the airport will unlock its full economic potential and transform Nagpur into an airport-centric metropolis, or Aerotropolis. Highlighting the rapid expansion of India’s aviation sector, Naidu noted that the number of airports in the country has grown from 74 in 2014 to 165 today, emphasizing that Nagpur’s new cargo hub will seamlessly connect the region’s famous oranges, local handlooms, and electronics to global markets. To mark the transition, the Civil Aviation Minister also launched the airport’s official website, while Union Minister Nitin Gadkari unveiled the new logo for the international airport.
During the ceremony, Union Minister Gadkari highlighted that the upgraded international airport would act as a massive catalyst for the tourism and mining sectors across the Vidarbha region, while actively urging the Civil Aviation Ministry to establish direct international flights from Nagpur to global hubs like Singapore and Dubai. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis echoed this optimistic vision, pointing out that significant investments are already flowing into the local aviation sector through the Indian Air Force’s Maintenance Command and various defense establishments. Fadnavis explained that the addition of a second runway will eventually transform Nagpur into a major Defense Aviation Manufacturing Hub, drawing further heavy industrial investments. Ultimately, the leadership expressed complete confidence that the newly managed airport will serve as a powerful economic growth engine not just for Nagpur, but for the entire Vidarbha region and Central India.
