Navi Mumbai International Airport eyes March 2025 launch

Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced that commercial operations at the Navi Mumbai International Airport are set to commence by March 31, 2025. At a media conference, he mentioned that 55-60% of the project has already been completed. The airport, with an estimated investment of Rs 180 billion, is being developed by the Adani Group in five phases and is expected to have a total capacity of handling 90 million passengers annually. During a review meeting, Minister Scindia highlighted that the first two phases of the airport, accommodating 20 million passengers per annum, are anticipated to be operational by March 2025. Despite mentioning a previous target of November and December for operationalisation, Scindia acknowledged the challenges of projections, emphasising a realistic timeline while expressing hope for potential earlier completion. Addressing the complexity of the project, Scindia emphasised the GatiShakti model with multi-modal connectivity, including road, rail, and metro. He highlighted the need for automated passenger connectivity within the terminal, considering the various components as essential pieces of the puzzle. The development includes plans for water connectivity, with the aim of connecting the airport through hovercraft from Colaba and cargo from Raigad in Phase 2. Scindia stressed the significance of the Navi Mumbai International Airport as a project of pride for the entire nation, emphasising its role as a 100% green airport in the first phase. He urged multiple agencies involved in the project to ensure that dependencies are addressed promptly to prevent any delays, aiming to eliminate bottlenecks in the critical stages of the project's progress.