Anil Ambani group eyes Nagpur airport project

After losing out the bids for Mumbai and Delhi airports, the Reliance-Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (R-ADAG) has set its sight on the multi-modal international hub airport at Nagpur (MIHAN) project, developed by Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC). Industry sources said R-ADAG is keen on bidding for the proposed airport at Nagpur.

"The group has indicated that cargo airports will be a major focus in future. The company had also bid for cargo operations and ground handling at Bangalore International Airport," sources said. A spokesperson of R-ADAG declined to comment.

The Anil Ambani Group has already made a bid for the 200-hectare rail and road terminal project which is a supportive infrastructure to the proposed airport at Nagpur.

"The rail and road terminal will act as link to air, rail and road transport. The project will consist of huge warehouses, cold storage and space for a open stockyard," sources said.

At present, the Nagpur airport is controlled by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). "MADC is in talks with AAI for transferring the airport to Maharashtra, which will be later handed over to MADC. Soon, tenders will be floated for the project," state government officials said.

The proposed airport, spread over 1,200 hectares, will have 4000X60 meters runway with provision for additional runway of same parameters.

It will have space for parking 50 aircraft in the terminal and another 50 away from the airport. Currently, the airport has 3200X45 meters runway. The airport terminal will be developed in phases.

Integrated with the development of MIHAN, MADC's master plan of the project consists of a special economic zone (SEZ) which will have an IT city, health city, a captive power plant and other manufacturing units.