The civil aviation sector in India is set for significant changes with the government targeting ₹27,500 crore in revenue under the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) 2.0 for 2026-2030. The plan involves the leasing of 11 airports, including Varanasi, Bhubaneswar, and Amritsar, through structured private participation while retaining government ownership of core assets. These airports will be offered to private entities under long-term concession agreements, where operations and maintenance are entrusted to private concessionaires. These concessionaires will handle capital expenditure for modernisation and expansion and remit upfront concession fees or a share of revenue back to the government.
Under the NMP 2.0, the framework emphasizes using the Operation, Maintenance and Development Agreement (OMDA) model, which promotes long-term Public Private Partnerships (PPP) lasting between 20 to 50 years. Additionally, strategic stake sales or equity divestments may occur through public offerings. Compared to a previous target of ₹13,500 crore for FY22-FY25, this initiative represents a substantial increase. The projected monetisation value, adjusted for asset depreciation, stands at ₹22,500 crore, with the majority benefiting airport authorities and public sector undertakings. Some revenue inflows are also anticipated to continue beyond 2030, ensuring sustained investment in India’s airport infrastructure.