Close on the heels of top Indian corporates, the Aditya Birla Group is considering to venture into development of non-metro airports in the country.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has identified 35 non-metro airports for modernisation though private participation. The development would consist of only the civilian aspects of the project.
This is in contrast to other metro and greenfield projects being taken up in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore, where the Indian partner has tied up with a foreign partner as the foreign company supply the knowledge for aeronautical part of project.
The big advantage for Aditya Birla Group shall be the synergy which they can derive from their retail business.
It can be safely assumed from this move that when it comes to being the frontrunner in diversifying business, Birlas always seem to be conservative in their approach, as they have always followed rather than making others follow.
Retail, telecom, financial services and now airport development is a case in this regard, as Tata, Ambani and Mittal were the first movers in these industries.