Archive · 24 Aug 2026
GMR Airports Plans $2 Billion Expansion at Delhi, Hyderabad
GMR Airports wants to make two Indian airports much bigger and more modern.
The airports are in Hyderabad and New Delhi.
The company plans to spend up to ₹194 billion over the next five to seven years.
Hyderabad will receive the larger share of the money.
Its airport could eventually handle about 80 million passengers each year instead of 34 million.
The projects will use borrowed money and investment from the airport companies.
GMR expects India’s air-travel market to grow a lot in the coming years.
The company says it does not want to run an airline and will stay focused on airports and related businesses.
GMR Airports plans to invest up to ₹194 billion in New Delhi and Hyderabad airports over five to seven years.
About ₹138 billion is earmarked for Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport and up to ₹56 billion for New Delhi’s airport.
Hyderabad’s annual passenger capacity is expected to rise from about 34 million to nearly 80 million.
The projects will be funded through a combination of debt and equity by the respective airport ventures.
GMR says it will focus on airports, maintenance and aviation-related real estate rather than entering the airline business.
- Who
- GMR Airports Ltd., led in the announcement by executive director for finance and strategy Saurabh Chawla.
- What
- A planned investment of up to ₹194 billion to expand and modernize airports in Hyderabad and New Delhi.
- When
- The investments are planned over the next five to seven years; GMR took over Nagpur airport in June 2026, with further investment plans still under discussion.
- Where
- Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad and the New Delhi airport, identified as Indira Gandhi International Airport.
- Why
- To increase capacity and modernize infrastructure in response to rapidly rising passenger demand in India.
- Total planned investment
- Up to ₹194 billion, or about $2 billion.
- Hyderabad allocation
- About ₹138 billion for Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.
- New Delhi allocation
- Up to ₹56 billion for Indira Gandhi International Airport.
- Hyderabad current capacity
- About 34 million passengers annually.
- Hyderabad projected capacity
- Nearly 80 million passengers annually after expansion.
- Funding structure
- Debt and equity raised by the respective airport ventures, rather than directly by GMR Airports as the holding company.
- GMR ownership
- France’s Aeroports de Paris owns a 26.5% stake in GMR Airports.
