Primer on group that built the new terminal at Delhi airport

NEW DELHI - Following is a fact sheet on GMR Group, the company that heads the consortium upgrading the Indira Gandhi International Airport in the nation capital, including the swank new Terminal 3 that was inaugurated Saturday:

-Founded in 1978 by G.M. Rao, a mechanical engineer, with a jute unit in Andhra Pradesh

-Now headquartered in Bangalore, it has interests spanning airports, energy, highways, urban Infrastructure and agri-business

-Its partners for Delhi airport project are Airports Authority of India, Fraport of Germany and Malaysian Airport Holding

-Owns the Delhi Daredevils team of the Indian Premier League cricket tournament

-Has also built the new Hyderabad airport and the Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport in Turkey

-Won contract recently to upgrade and build Male International Airport

-Has constructed at least six major highway projects, apart from handling several intra-city four-lane projects

-Pioneer in projects that involve public-private initiative

-Its Dutch subsidiary runs power projects in Britain, the Netherlands, Mexico, Australia and Philippines with a capacity of 8,086 mw and $1.65 billion turnover

-Its subsidiary in Singapore, Island Power, has a contract for 800 mw power project in Singapore

-It has also won two hydroelectric power projects in Nepal with a combined capacity of 550 mw

-It runs two integrated sugar complexes in Karnataka and one in Andhra Pradesh

-In urban infrastructure, it has a pact with Tamil Nadu for a multi-product special economic zone in Krishnagiri district.