MUMBAI – Prime Minister Narendra Modi will officially open the first phase of the Navi Mumbai International Airport on October 8, a senior Maharashtra government official confirmed. This long-awaited greenfield project is poised to kick off commercial flight services by December, easing the strain on the bustling Mumbai aviation scene.
The inaugural phase, built at a cost of ₹19,647 crore, falls under the Navi Mumbai International Airport Pvt Ltd banner. The Adani Group controls a 74% share, while the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO), the state’s land development arm, retains 26%. The facility secured its crucial aerodrome license from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on September 30, clearing the path for operations.
CIDCO Vice Chairman and Managing Director Vijay Singhal outlined the Prime Minister’s itinerary: Modi is set to touch down around 2:40 pm and remain on-site for about two hours. His schedule calls for a walkthrough of the terminal structure followed by remarks to attendees.
Spanning 1,160 hectares, the airport—once all four terminals are complete—will handle up to 90 million passengers yearly and 3.25 million metric tonnes of cargo, ranking among Asia’s top aviation complexes. Phase one launches with a single terminal accommodating 20 million travelers annually and 0.8 million metric tonnes of freight, supported by one runway. Paired with the existing Mumbai International Airport’s 55 million passenger throughput, the combined infrastructure will serve nearly 150 million air passengers per year, cementing the region as a global flight nexus.
What sets this airport apart is its seamless multimodal connectivity—the first in India to integrate expressways, highways, metro lines, suburban railways, and water taxis. Emphasizing sustainability, it includes dedicated storage for eco-friendly aviation fuel. An Automated People Mover system will further streamline movement between terminals.
“Second airport of Maha Mumbai—Navi Mumbai International Airport—is going to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 8,” Singhal noted. He added that phase one investments total ₹19,647 crore, with full development projected to exceed ₹1 lakh crore. On the broader impact, Singhal observed: “Once this airport is fully completed, then these two airports together will cater to almost 150 million passengers per annum, making the two airports a big aviation hub globally.” During the visit, “The Prime Minister will first visit the terminal building, and then take a round of the terminal building, and then he will be addressing the audience.”
This milestone promises to transform regional air travel, bolstering economic growth in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
