Air Force, state agree on land for new Nagpur airport terminal

The biggest hurdle to the new terminal at Nagpur's Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport has been cleared. The state government and the Indian Air Force have reached an agreement on transferring the land. The modernisation of the airport and construction of the new terminal are now expected to gather pace.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday shared details of a meeting with Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. He said 27 acres of Indian Air Force land was needed for the new terminal at Nagpur International Airport. The Air Force has agreed to hand over the required land to the state government immediately. According to Fadnavis, the Defence Minister responded positively and assured the necessary cooperation.

The meeting decided that 9 hectares would be made available soon for constructing the new terminal building, and the necessary construction permission would also be granted. The remaining 18 hectares will be available by June 2028.

Part of the land allotted to the Air Force had been encroached upon. Following the agreement, a commitment has been made to clear it completely within the next 7 to 10 days. As soon as it is vacated, the entire plot will be handed over to the Indian Air Force.

Fadnavis said the Maharashtra government and GMR Nagpur International Airport Limited will provide the necessary road and other connectivity to the new Air Force campus. Until the Air Force's new facilities are complete, necessary help will also be given for its day-to-day operations.

The Chief Minister said the agreement would help complete Phase 1 of the Nagpur airport's development before June 2029. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari joined the meeting by video conference. The Chief Minister's OSD, Lokeshchandra, was also present. According to Fadnavis, in-principle approval has also been received for the movement of heavy machinery in the airport's technical area, for which a separate standard operating procedure will be prepared.

GMR Nagpur said that as soon as the Air Force takes possession of all its land, it will allocate a budget and begin construction there. From June 2028, the Air Force will then start handing over its existing land in phases for the expansion of the airport terminal. The decision resolves the pending issue between the state government and the Air Force.

Once the Air Force gets its land, it will build the new infrastructure. This will give the Airports Authority the land it needs, without hindrance, to build a new, grand terminal.