Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated the first phase of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), marking a major milestone in India’s aviation expansion.
Developed as a Greenfield project at a cost of approximately ₹19,650 crore, the airport is expected to significantly ease air traffic pressure on Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and bolster regional connectivity.
Spread across 1,160 hectares, NMIA will feature four terminals, two parallel runways, and a dedicated VVIP terminal — the latter set to be completed by 2030. Designed by the London-based Zaha Hadid Architects, the terminal’s architecture takes inspiration from the lotus flower and integrates art celebrating Maharashtra’s cultural heritage.
Before the inauguration, Prime Minister Modi toured the new facility, accompanied by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, and industrialist Gautam Adani.
Domestic operations are expected to commence shortly, while international flights will begin by December. Airlines including IndiGo, Air India, and Akasa Air have already confirmed plans to operate from NMIA, which aims to become India’s first fully digital airport — featuring paperless boarding, e-gates, and a real-time travel app.
Emphasizing sustainability, the airport will generate around 47 MW of solar power, operate electric shuttle services, and support Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) infrastructure. It will also become India’s first airport with a water taxi connection.
Calling the inauguration a “grand moment” for Maharashtra, CM Fadnavis announced that the airport will be named after late Dinkar Balu Patil — a key figure who fought for the rights and fair rehabilitation of project-affected families during the development of Navi Mumbai.
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