Decade after GMR’s ouster, AAI to study Maldives request to run airport, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• The Maldives has requested India's assistance in managing the upgraded Hanimaadhoo International Airport.
• The request was made by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu to Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu on November 9, 2025.
• The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has been directed to study the proposal.
• The airport redevelopment was supported by an $800 million line of credit from EXIM Bank of India.
• JMC Projects, an Indian company, completed the upgrade work at a cost of $136.6 million.

Detailed Insights:

• The request follows the inauguration of the upgraded Hanimaadhoo International Airport, which aims to boost economic growth and global connectivity in the northern Maldives.
• The upgraded airport features a 2,465-metre runway and a passenger building capable of handling 1.3 million passengers annually.
• The AAI manages numerous airports in India, including 26 State government-owned airports and 113 of its own, with some being operated by private entities.
• This development occurs more than a decade after the controversial termination of GMR's contract to develop and operate Male International Airport in 2012.
• The previous GMR deal, valued at $511 million, was the largest foreign investment project in the Maldives at the time, but was later declared void.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Airports Authority of India (AAI): A statutory body responsible for creating, upgrading, maintaining, and managing civil aviation infrastructure in India.
• EXIM Bank of India: A financial institution that facilitates India's international trade by providing export credit and other related services.
• Line of Credit: A pre-approved loan amount that a borrower can access as needed and repay over time.