The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), set to become one of the country’s most modern and high-tech airports, is finally ready for inauguration. The Prime Minister today performed the formal inauguration of this state-of-the-art airport. This airport will prove to be a historic milestone in India’s aviation sector.

The Prime Minister inaugurated the first phase of the Navi Mumbai International Airport on Wednesday. The first phase includes one terminal and a runway. Currently, its capacity is 20 million passengers annually and it will handle 60 flights daily.

The first phase has cost approximately ₹19,647 crore. The airport is planned to have 4 terminals. After completion of all phases, the airport’s capacity will reach 90 million passengers annually. Meanwhile, it will handle 300 flights daily.

The Navi Mumbai Airport terminal has been developed with a lotus-inspired design. Regular flights will commence from here starting December. This will be Mumbai’s second international airport. It has been named after farmer leader D.B. Patil.

The Prime Minister has arrived on a 2-day visit to Mumbai. His aircraft landed at the Navi Mumbai International Airport itself. Additionally, the Prime Minister also inaugurated the final phase of Mumbai Metro Line-3 and Mumbai’s first fully underground metro line.

Adani Group holds 74% stake in the airport

  • This airport is being developed jointly by the Adani Group and the Maharashtra government’s Land Development Authority (CIDCO). The Adani Group holds a 74% stake while CIDCO holds a 26% stake. It is located near Jawaharlal Nehru Port and Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link, which will help meet Mumbai’s growing air travel needs.
  • It has been named after farmer leader D.B. Patil. Patil was a prominent farmer leader who fought for the rights of farmers and local communities in Maharashtra. Patil himself fought for the rights of villagers displaced during land acquisition for the Navi Mumbai International Airport project.

Navi Mumbai International Airport

Navi Mumbai International Airport is a new greenfield airport currently under construction in the Kopra-Panvel area of Maharashtra, India. It was conceived to decongest the existing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, with planning and land acquisition processes spanning over two decades. Once operational, it is set to become a major international aviation hub for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

Mumbai Metro Line-3

The Mumbai Metro Line-3, also known as the Aqua Line, is a 33.5 km underground metro corridor currently under construction to connect the key areas of South Mumbai with the western and central suburbs. Its development, which began in 2016, has been marked by significant delays due to archaeological discoveries, legal challenges, and environmental concerns. Once operational, it is expected to drastically reduce travel time and decongest the city’s road and rail networks.

Jawaharlal Nehru Port

Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT), also known as Nhava Sheva, is India’s largest container port. It was commissioned in 1989 on the east shore of Mumbai Harbour to decongest the Mumbai Port and modernize India’s maritime trade. Today, it is a vital gateway for the country’s international commerce, handling a significant portion of its containerized cargo.

Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link

The Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL), also known as the Atal Setu, is India’s longest sea bridge, connecting Mumbai with its satellite city, Navi Mumbai. First conceived decades ago, the project faced numerous delays before its official inauguration in January 2024. This 21.8 km engineering marvel is designed to drastically reduce travel time, boost economic integration, and decongest traffic in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

Adani Group

The Adani Group is a major Indian multinational conglomerate, founded in 1988 by Gautam Adani as a commodity trading company. It has since grown into a vast empire with a significant focus on infrastructure, including ports, airports, power generation, and renewable energy, playing a pivotal role in India’s economic development.

Maharashtra government’s Land Development Authority (CIDCO)

CIDCO (City and Industrial Development Corporation) is a government town planning agency established in 1970 to develop a new township across Mumbai’s harbor. It is best known for systematically planning and constructing Navi Mumbai as a counter-magnet to ease population pressure on Mumbai. The organization continues to oversee infrastructure and development across the region.

D.B. Patil

D.B. Patil is a prominent name associated with a major road and a stadium in Navi Mumbai, India, named in honor of Dhirubhai Ambani’s close associate and local leader, D.B. Patil. He was a key figure in the fight for fair compensation and land rights for farmers during the acquisition of land for the development of the new city of Navi Mumbai. The infrastructure named after him serves as a tribute to his legacy as an advocate for the local people.