As the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) prepares to begin operations in September, the Maharashtra government has accelerated plans for a 667-acre Aerocity in its vicinity. The City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) has floated a tender to appoint a consultant for drafting the Master Plan, with land earmarked for residential, commercial, and retail developments—each spanning around 123 acres.Officials confirmed that a techno-economic feasibility study will be conducted for projects across residential, commercial, retail, industrial, and mixed-use zones, each covering over 120 acres. The Aerocity is envisioned to host financial services, corporate offices, export-oriented units, warehousing, hotels, hospitals, schools, entertainment centres, and housing, making it a holistic urban ecosystem.The Master Plan will take into account market demand, financial feasibility, and infrastructure design while aligning with both domestic and global trends. It will also integrate with surrounding developments such as the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (Atal Setu), Navi Mumbai Metro lines, suburban railway expansions, ports, and highway projects.CIDCO, which has played a central role in planning Navi Mumbai since the 1970s, had acquired the Aerocity land alongside the airport’s construction. The consultant will also provide transaction advisory services for the proposed development.Real estate experts said the Aerocity offers an opportunity for planned development at scale, unlike historic growth patterns in Mumbai. Manohar Shroff, Senior Vice-President of CREDAI-MCHI Navi Mumbai, noted:“While several parts of Mumbai face waterlogging and congestion, Navi Mumbai has benefitted from planned infrastructure. Aerocity gives us a chance to develop a well-designed hub with hotels, hospitals, education, and housing in a structured way.”India currently has nine Aerocities either operational or under development, including those in Delhi, Hyderabad, Mohali, Durgapur, Jewar (Noida), Ayodhya, Devanahalli (Bengaluru), and now Navi Mumbai.First conceptualised in 1997 to decongest Mumbai Airport, NMIA is being developed by the Adani Group, which will also operate Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. With the airport’s inaugural flight expected later this year, interest in nearby properties has surged. Pilots and aviation professionals, especially those nearing retirement, are increasingly investing in plots and luxury villas near the Aerocity.Developers also highlight Navi Mumbai’s strategic location, almost equidistant from Mumbai and Pune, which is attracting buyers from western Pune who anticipate long-term gains from property appreciation around NMIA.