Boeing signs land lease for Nagpur facility

US aircraft manufacturer Boeing has signed the much-delayed lease agreement with the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) to set up a $100 million maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility in Nagpur. The facility is a joint venture between the aerospace major and national carrier Air India, while MADC, a government agency, has provided the land. “We have signed the necessary papers to live up to the promise Boeing made in 2006 about constructing its second MRO with Air India as partner in Nagpur,’’ Boeing senior vice-president Dinesh Keskar said. “Hopefully, it will be functional by the end of 2010.’’ The 99-year lease agreement is for 50 acres located adjacent to the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar international airport under the multimodal international passenger and cargo hub, Nagpur (Mihan) project. By the end of the current fiscal, Boeing will float tenders for the construction of hangars which will accommodate two wide-bodied or four medium-bodied aircraft for maintenance and repairs, Keskar said. Boeing had decided to set up the MRO in Nagpur as there is ample manpower and land available.