AAI approves privatisation of 13 more airports

10 Sep 2021 CW Team

Amritsar, Bhubaneshwar, Indore, Raipur, Trichy, and Varanasi are among the six major airports in the country.

Hubli, Tirupati, Aurangabad, Jabalpur, Kangra, Kushinagar, and Gaya are among the smaller ones that will be combined with the larger ones.

By March 2024, the government anticipates a private investment of around Rs 3,700 crore in the airport.

Varanasi will be clubbed with Kushinagar and Gaya, Amritsar with Kangra, Bhubaneswar with Tirupati, Raipur with Aurangabad, Indore with Jabalpur, and Trichy with Hubli, according to the media.

AAI will now begin the process of preparing bid documents in order to repeat the process next year.

The Buddhist circuit of Varanasi-Kushinagar-Gaya is likely to pique bidders' interest due to the tourism potential of these cities, aside from Varanasi being a major destination in and of itself.

Smaller airports have been grouped with larger ones for the first time while opting for the PPP model, in which a private player develops and expands airports on a revenue-share basis while the government retains ownership.

Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, and Mangaluru are among the airports that have been developed and run under the PPP model so far.

The Adani Group intends to take over Jaipur, Guwahati, and Thiruvananthapuram airports, as well as build Navi Mumbai Airport.

These airports were all privatised separately.

The Mumbai Airport promoter is granted the right to construct Navi Mumbai Airport.

Image Source

Also read: Lok Sabha passes AERA bill on airport privatisation

Also read: Deloitte appointed as consultant for Nagpur airport privatisation

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has approved the privatisation of 13 more airports by 2022, including six major airports and seven smaller airports that will be merged with the larger ones, just days after the government announced its ambitious asset monetisation plan. Amritsar, Bhubaneshwar, Indore, Raipur, Trichy, and Varanasi are among the six major airports in the country. Hubli, Tirupati, Aurangabad, Jabalpur, Kangra, Kushinagar, and Gaya are among the smaller ones that will be combined with the larger ones. By March 2024, the government anticipates a private investment of around Rs 3,700 crore in the airport. Varanasi will be clubbed with Kushinagar and Gaya, Amritsar with Kangra, Bhubaneswar with Tirupati, Raipur with Aurangabad, Indore with Jabalpur, and Trichy with Hubli, according to the media. AAI will now begin the process of preparing bid documents in order to repeat the process next year. The Buddhist circuit of Varanasi-Kushinagar-Gaya is likely to pique bidders' interest due to the tourism potential of these cities, aside from Varanasi being a major destination in and of itself. Smaller airports have been grouped with larger ones for the first time while opting for the PPP model, in which a private player develops and expands airports on a revenue-share basis while the government retains ownership. Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, and Mangaluru are among the airports that have been developed and run under the PPP model so far. The Adani Group intends to take over Jaipur, Guwahati, and Thiruvananthapuram airports, as well as build Navi Mumbai Airport. These airports were all privatised separately. The Mumbai Airport promoter is granted the right to construct Navi Mumbai Airport. Image Source Also read: Lok Sabha passes AERA bill on airport privatisation Also read: Deloitte appointed as consultant for Nagpur airport privatisation

Infrastructure Transport

07 Apr 2026

Large Format Store Planned At M G Road Metro Station

M G Road station in Bengaluru is set to host the city’s first large-format commercial and experience space, with planning led by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited. BMRCL has invited proposals to develop and operate a central business district destination at the Purple?Pink Line interchange. The plan positions the station as a commercial hub designed to serve a broad commuter base across the city. The proposal is part of a broader effort to activate transit nodes commercially. Tender documents set a minimum monthly rental of Rs 0.944 million (mn), inclusive of GST, for the large-format..

Infrastructure Energy

07 Apr 2026

Government Cancels Auction Of Eleven Critical Mineral Blocks

The government has cancelled the auction of 11 critical and strategic mineral blocks after receiving a poor investor response and failing to attract a sufficient number of qualified bidders. The decision represents a setback to plans to ramp up domestic exploration and production of critical minerals amid global supply chain disruptions and rising demand for materials used in clean energy and advanced technologies. The mines ministry issued an annulment notice setting out the reasons for the cancellations. The annulment notice indicated that the auction process for five mineral blocks was canc..

Infrastructure Energy

07 Apr 2026

Gujarat Pushes Biogas Growth With 193 Operational Units

Gujarat has operationalised 193 biogas plants across the state and is planning to add 60 more units as part of a broader push to scale up clean and sustainable energy solutions. The existing plants, established under various government-supported schemes, process organic waste including cattle dung and agricultural residue to produce biogas and a nutrient-rich slurry. The output is mainly used for cooking and other energy needs in rural and semi-urban communities, while also improving local waste management practices. The Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA) is leading the initiative and is..