India is preparing to impose limits on bids by a single entity in the planned privatisation of 11 airports, amid growing concerns over market concentration, The Economic Times reported. The move follows rising fears of monopolistic dominance in the aviation sector, which came under scrutiny after the IndiGo crisis last year.
According to the report, government officials involved in the process said discussions have begun on structuring bidding rules to encourage competition while preventing excessive concentration of assets in the hands of a single player.
Govt may limit a single entity to two airport blocks (four airports) to prevent market concentration.
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India is preparing to impose limits on bids by a single entity in the planned privatisation of 11 airports, amid growing concerns over market concentration, The Economic Times reported. The move follows rising fears of monopolistic dominance in the aviation sector, which came under scrutiny after the IndiGo crisis last year.
According to the report, government officials involved in the process said discussions have begun on structuring bidding rules to encourage competition while preventing excessive concentration of assets in the hands of a single player.
In the 2018 privatisation round, no such cap was imposed, allowing Adani Enterprises to emerge as the highest bidder for all six airports on offer. Adani Group Director Jeet Adani has since indicated that the group will aggressively pursue all 11 airports in the upcoming round, prompting policymakers to consider safeguards.
However, some officials caution that imposing strict limits could make bidders more conservative and potentially reduce auction proceeds.
Under the proposal, a single entity would be allowed to win a maximum of two blocks—equivalent to four airports. If the same bidder tops a third block, the next-highest bidder would be given the option to match the winning price. The final decision will rest with the Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee.
The upcoming privatisation round will include seven smaller airports bundled with six larger ones in similar geographies, in a bid to make less commercially viable assets more attractive to investors.
Under this model, Varanasi will be paired with Kushinagar and Gaya, Amritsar with Kangra, Bhubaneswar with Tirupati , Raipur with Aurangabad , and Trichy with Hubli.
Officials across ministries remain divided. A senior civil aviation ministry official noted that airports inherently carry monopoly risks, and excessive concentration could pose systemic threats.
29/04/2026 Outlook
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