Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated Phase-1 of the much-awaited Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). This greenfield project, built at a cost of about ₹ 19,650 crore, is being considered a major achievement in India’s aviation sector. Spread over 1160 hectares, this airport will reduce the pressure of increasing traffic on the existing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport of Mumbai.
PM Modi said – “Now Mumbai has Asia’s largest connectivity hub”
Before the inauguration ceremony, PM Modi did a walkthrough of the airport and took stock of the entire arrangement.
Addressing the gathering he said –
“Now Mumbai has a new airport, which will become Asia’s biggest connectivity hub.
Navi Mumbai Airport is a symbol of ‘developed India’. This will give direct access to the markets of Middle East and Europe to the farmers of Maharashtra. This will create new opportunities for investment and employment.”
People’s dreams got wings through UDAN scheme
PM Modi also mentioned the success of UDAN Yojana in his speech. He said that because of this scheme, lakhs of people have experienced air travel for the first time in the last 10 years. Now air travel has become more accessible and cheaper than ever in India.
🏛️ Many stalwarts were present in the ceremony
On this occasion, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar,
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, as well as industrialist Gautam Adani were also present.
Naidu said –
“Navi Mumbai today has become a symbol of new hope and aspirations.
This airport will give new heights to India’s global identity.
“In the last 11 years, the Modi government has built 90 new airports — that is, one new airport every 45 days.”
Design and Features – A Confluence of Technology and Tradition
Navi Mumbai Airport has been designed by Zaha Hadid Architects of London.
Its structure is inspired by the lotus flower and houses installations depicting the culture and art of Maharashtra.
Main characteristics:
- Four terminals and two parallel runways
- VVIP terminal will be ready by 2026
- Automated People Mover (APM) — transit system connecting all terminals
- Storage facility for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
- Energy supply from 47 MW solar power
- Green mobility through electric bus service
- India’s first water taxi connected airport
India’s first fully digital airport
NMIA is being made India’s first fully digital airport, where
- paperless boarding,
- e-gates,
- And a mobile app providing real-time updates will be available.
Major airlines like Indigo, Air India and Akasa Air will soon start flights from here.
Domestic flights will start soon, while international flights are likely to start from December 2025.
Navi Mumbai will become the new center of development
CM Devendra Fadnavis described the inauguration of the airport as a “historic moment” for Maharashtra and Mumbai.
He announced that this airport will be named after late Dinkar Balu Patil —
Who became the voice of the rights of displaced families during the development of Navi Mumbai. This airport will not only reduce the traffic problem of Mumbai Metropolitan Region, but will also open doors to new industrial and economic possibilities for Maharashtra.
