PM Modi Launches Phase 1 Of Navi Mumbai International Airport; India’s Eco-Friendly Aviation Hub

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Phase 1 of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) on Wednesday, marking a significant milestone in India’s aviation infrastructure.

Spanning 1,160 hectares and developed for Rs 19,650 crore, developers are positioning NMIA to become one of the country’s most modern and eco-friendly airports.

Authorities will begin domestic flight operations in the first week of December 2025, followed by international flights within two months.

Workers have already completed one of the airport’s two runways, and all terminals will feature an integrated system to enhance passenger convenience.

The airport introduces advanced passenger facilities, including direct check-in at the metro station and baggage handling through the ‘One-Up End-to-End Baggage Facility’ app.

The terminal will also highlight Indian culture through digital art, while artificial intelligence (AI) technology will support operational efficiency across the airport.

Connectivity and Infrastructure Enhancements

Authorities are constructing a new road from Atal Setu to Kosthal Road to improve access, and they will soon approve Metro Line 8 connecting both Navi Mumbai and Mumbai airports.

Authorities also plan to launch a water taxi service to further enhance connectivity. The airport features parking facilities for 350 aircraft and separate taxiways for each runway.

Phase 1 of NMIA will handle 20 million passengers per annum and 0.5 million metric tonnes of cargo, while the fully completed airport will manage 90 million passengers and 3.25 million metric tonnes of cargo annually.

NMIA is owned by Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd, with MIAL holding 74 per cent and CIDCO 26 per cent ownership. The Director General of Civil Aviation granted the aerodrome licence on September 30, 2025.

Together with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, NMIA will form a multi-airport system for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, establishing a hub with a combined ultimate capacity of 150 million passengers per annum.

The new airport will ease congestion and establish Mumbai as a global multi-airport city, showcasing India’s rapid infrastructure and economic development.

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