GMR bets big on Nagpur, envisions India’s next Atlanta aviation hub

Nagpur Airport is being positioned as a future ‘Atlanta of India', with GMR Airports chairman betting big on its long-term potential as a passenger, cargo and aviation ecosystem hub. As part of that vision, GMR is set to take over the airport within about a fortnight and begin a major expansion plan that includes renovating the existing terminal, building a new integrated domestic-cum-international terminal, and eventually adding a second runway to support an ultimate annual capacity of 3 crore passengers.Sharing the roadmap exclusively with TOI, GMR Airports chairman GBS Raju said: "Nagpur will become another Atlanta in the long term. Just like FedEx transformed Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area into a critical logistics hub of the US, the same will happen at Nagpur. Most metro airports in India will have night parking problem in five years from now. Nagpur will be very helpful for the first flight of the day (for airlines to operate from nearby metros). That is the positioning we have in mind for Nagpur from passenger and cargo point of view. Nagpur is a logistical hub and will be a game changer for everyone.""We want to take over the airport at the earliest. The immediate thing to be done is that we will renovate the existing terminal completely. The designs for the same are ready. Our 140 people are already working on the site. We have done financial closure of the airport. We are going to build a new integrated domestic-cum-international terminal which will take about 36 months (from when work begins)," he said. The new terminal will be modular in design, allowing phased expansion as passenger traffic grows. As both passenger and associated aviation activity increase, the airport is also expected to get a second runway within eight years to handle future demand.According to GMR website, Nagpur Airport currently has an annual passenger handling capacity of 40 lakh and handled 25 lakh passengers in FY26 while being connected to over 15 destinations. The airport also handled over eight million tonne cargo.The group will present its plans to Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who has been keen to see Nagpur emerge as a world-class aviation hub. Raju expressed confidence in the airport's strategic potential for both passenger traffic and aviation-related industries.Nagpur is already home to maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) major Indamer Technics - recently acquired by Adani Group - where aircraft from multiple airlines, including IndiGo, undergo checks. Raju added that global aerospace and defence companies are also exploring opportunities in the city."Several aviation majors like Safran are working very closely with Indian defence companies to set up component manufacturing units. Nagpur is well positioned for that because it has that ecosystem," he said.The GMR Group outlined its plans after the Union Cabinet earlier this month approved the extension of Airports Authority of India's (AAI) land lease to MIHAN, enabling MIHAN to license Nagpur Airport to GMR Nagpur International Airport Ltd (GNIAL) for 30 years."With the extension of lease period, it would now become co-terminus with the 30 years concession period of GNIAL. This is expected to usher in new era of growth and infrastructure advancement for Nagpur Airport. With private sector efficiency and govt oversight, the airport is poised to see significant investment, modernisation, and improved passenger and cargo services," a govt statement issued on May 13 had said.The statement added that GNIAL would lead phased transformation of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport into a world-class facility capable of handling 3 crore passengers annually, strengthening its position as a key airport in Central India.