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 GBS Raju envisioning the city as a major logistics and aviation hub. The company plans to take over the airport within about two weeks and launch a major expansion project. This includes renovating the existing terminal, constructing a new integrated domestic-cum-international terminal, and eventually adding a second runway to achieve an annual passenger capacity of 3 crore. Raju emphasized that Nagpur’s strategic location and logistical advantages will make it a critical node for both passenger and cargo traffic, similar to how FedEx transformed Dallas-Fort Worth into a U.S. logistics hub. The expansion roadmap, shared exclusively with The Times of India, outlines immediate steps such as renovating the current terminal, with designs already finalized. A team of 140 workers is on-site, and financial closure for the project has been secured. The new terminal, designed to be modular, will allow phased expansion as passenger numbers grow. Raju noted that the airport’s capacity will increase over time, with a second runway expected within eight years to meet future demand. Currently, Nagpur Airport handles 40 lakh passengers annually, with 25 lakh passengers recorded in FY26. It is connected to over 15 destinations and has handled more than eight million tonnes of cargo. The airport’s strategic importance is further highlighted by its role as a logistical hub, with existing infrastructure like the Indamer Technics MRO facility, recently acquired by Adani Group. Global aerospace and defense companies are also exploring opportunities in Nagpur, citing its growing ecosystem.#times_of_india #mihan #nagpur_airport #gmr_airports #gb_s_rajus
Mihan residents question ‘high’ water rate, seek parity Residents of Mihan, a residential area near Nagpur’s Multi-Modal International Hub Airport, are raising concerns over the steep water tariffs imposed by the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC). While the region is being promoted as a future IT hub, locals argue that the cost of water is disproportionately high compared to rates in Nagpur, where the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) employs a slab-based pricing system. The dispute has led to formal complaints from housing societies, with some residents also facing issues of water supply. The MADC’s current water tariff structure, which applies to all consumers in the project area, charges a flat rate of Rs21.26 per unit in 2025-26, set to rise further to Rs23.38 per 1,000 litres from April 1, 2026. This rate is significantly higher than the NMC’s slab-based model, which ranges from Rs8.99 for the first 20 units to Rs25.18 for consumption beyond 80 units. Residents argue that the MADC’s uniform pricing fails to account for varying consumption levels, effectively charging low users the same as high consumers. Deepak Birole, a resident and advocate for the issue, criticized the tariff as “excessively high,” noting that the area’s development as an IT hub should not come at the expense of basic necessities. He emphasized that the lack of a slab system means even minimal usage is billed at rates comparable to the upper slabs in Nagpur. “At a time when Mihan is being projected as an upcoming IT hub, residents are being forced to pay a premium for a basic necessity,” Birole said. Other residents highlighted broader civic challenges, including the absence of functional water connections in some societies.#nagpur_municipal_corporation #maharashtra_airport_development_company #mihan #deepak_birole #rk_dube
Days After Pothole Death, NMC Cracks Whip On Flooding Hotspots & Incomplete Works A 65-year-old woman died after her motorcycle tipped over due to a deep pothole in Nagpur’s Khaparkheda area, prompting the Nagpur Municipal Corporation to intensify efforts to address road safety and monsoon preparedness. The incident, which occurred on April 10, has drawn renewed attention to the deteriorating state of infrastructure in the city, particularly in peri-urban regions. Indubai Bonde, a resident of Khapa Patan, succumbed to her injuries on April 13 after the motorcycle she was riding pillion struck a crater-like pothole near Tandulwani bridge. Police reported that Bonde was traveling with her 25-year-old grandson, Himanshu, when the two-wheeler overturned between 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. The elderly woman was initially treated at a hospital in Patansawangi before being transferred to Nagpur for advanced care, where she later died. An accidental death report has been filed, and further investigations are ongoing. The tragedy has intensified calls for improved road safety measures and proactive steps to mitigate flood risks ahead of the monsoon season. At a high-level meeting convened by Shivani Dani-Wakhare, the NMC’s standing committee chairperson, officials from multiple civic and development agencies were directed to prioritize completing ongoing construction projects and identify waterlogging-prone areas. Dani-Wakhare emphasized the need for comprehensive reports on low-lying zones and urged agencies such as MahaMetro, MIHAN, the National Highways Authority of India, and the PWD to finalize their work to prevent water accumulation. The meeting, attended by NMC chief engineer Manoj Talewar and representatives from all 10 zones, also mandated that agencies submit detailed data on their projects to the NMC’s chief engineer.#nagpur #nmc #shivani_dani_wakhare #mihan #mahaMetro
Fuel Famine Drives Motorists To City Outskirts Nagpur: A growing fuel shortage has forced commuters to travel to the city’s outskirts in search of petrol and diesel, creating chaotic scenes at fuel stations along Wardha Road and Kamptee Road. With several pumps within the city limits either closing early or overwhelmed by demand, drivers are now braving long distances to refuel, only to face endless queues that have turned service roads into congested arteries. The situation has escalated rapidly, with tempers fraying as uncertainty lingers over when normal supply will resume. Kiran Tekam, a motorist heading to AIIMS in MIHAN to visit a patient, described his frustration after avoiding nearby pumps like Narendra Nagar and Chhatrapati Square due to long lines. “I thought the outskirts would be easier, but I’ve been stuck here for 15 minutes already, with several vehicles ahead of me,” he said, gesturing at the slow-moving traffic. The fear of running out of fuel has pushed many to fill up whenever possible, even if it means waiting for extended periods. Pankaj Borkar, a Jamtha resident working in MIHAN, waited over 40 minutes to refuel his bike. “I didn’t want to take chances. If there’s an emergency and I have no petrol, what will I do?” he said, echoing the concerns of others in the queue. Even daily commuters, accustomed to long routes, are surprised by the scale of the rush. Dilip Bhadoriya, an e-rickshaw driver operating between Jamtha and Khapri, noted that the situation has worsened dramatically. “I’ve never seen queues like this in the morning. Even yesterday wasn’t this bad,” he added. Akash Tambe, traveling to Chandrapur, expressed skepticism about the situation worsening. “City petrol pumps are not letting us fill beyond 2 litres of diesel.#nagpur #aiims #wardha_road #kamptee_road #mihan
