Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the first phase of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) on October 8, marking a major milestone in India’s aviation infrastructure. Built at a cost of ₹19,647 crore, the airport represents one of the largest greenfield infrastructure projects in the country. Once operational, it will become the second major airport in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, complementing the existing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) and easing its passenger load. Commercial flight operations from NMIA are expected to commence in December, following the receipt of its aerodrome licence from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on September 30.
The mega project is being developed in multiple phases by Navi Mumbai International Airport Limited, a joint venture where the Adani Group holds a 74 percent stake and the remaining 26 percent is owned by the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO), a Maharashtra government undertaking. CIDCO Vice Chairman and Managing Director Vijay Singhal confirmed the inauguration date and said that Prime Minister Modi will land at the new airport around 2:40 p.m., spend nearly two hours at the venue, and deliver an address after inspecting the terminal building.
According to officials, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has assigned the airport the code “NMI.” Leading domestic airlines, including Air India Group, IndiGo, and Akasa Air, have already announced plans to shift a portion of their operations to the new facility once it becomes operational. The introduction of NMIA is expected to significantly decongest the existing Mumbai airport, which currently handles around 55 million passengers annually.
Spread across 1,160 hectares, the Navi Mumbai International Airport is designed to be one of Asia’s largest aviation hubs. The entire project will feature four terminals and two parallel runways, with a combined passenger handling capacity of 90 million annually and a cargo capacity of 3.25 million metric tonnes upon full completion. Phase 1, which is now ready for inauguration, includes Terminal 1 — capable of accommodating 20 million passengers per year and handling 0.8 million metric tonnes of cargo.
Once all four phases are completed, the total project cost is expected to touch ₹1 lakh crore. Together, the Navi Mumbai and Mumbai airports will have the combined capacity to handle nearly 150 million passengers annually, positioning Mumbai among the world’s leading aviation hubs. This will not only boost air connectivity but also enhance trade, tourism, and investment opportunities in Maharashtra and beyond.
Navi Mumbai International Airport is also envisioned as India’s first fully integrated multimodal transport hub. It will be connected by multiple modes of transportation — expressways, highways, suburban railway networks, metro lines, and even water taxi services. This unique interconnectivity will provide passengers with seamless access to and from the airport, significantly reducing travel time within the region.
Officials highlighted that NMIA has been designed as a “green airport,” incorporating sustainable practices and infrastructure. It includes storage facilities for sustainable aviation fuel, rainwater harvesting systems, and energy-efficient terminal designs. An Automated Passenger People Mover (APPM) system will connect all four terminals internally, ensuring easy and eco-friendly transit for travelers.
With the upcoming inauguration, Navi Mumbai International Airport is expected to redefine the aviation landscape of western India. It symbolizes the country’s growing focus on modern infrastructure and sustainable development, aligning with Prime Minister Modi’s vision of transforming India into a global logistics and transportation hub.
