The GMR Group is likely to exit the sugar business to focus more on its core areas of airports, energy, highways and urban infrastructure.

The group currently holds 74.84 per cent in GMR Industries (GIL), which operates three sugar plants at Sankili in Andhra Pradesh, Haliyal and Ramdurg in Karnataka with a combined capacity of 11,000 tonne cane crushed per day (tccpd). The three units also have a cogeneration capacity of 46 MW and a distilling capacity of 95 kilolitres per day.

GMR has appointed N M Rothschild & Sons to look for prospective buyers in GIL. NM has reportedly found out a few south-based sugar firms. The sale process is expected to be completed by end of March 2010.