Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: TOUTED as one of the most modern and eco-friendly airports, the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 8.
The Rs 19,650-crore greenfield airport is aimed at enhancing air connectivity in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and Western India. The new facility is expected to ease congestion and serve as a major aviation hub.
The domestic flight operations are expected to commence in the first week of December 2025, followed by international operations in further two months.
Developed under a Public-Private Partnership, NMIA is operated by Navi Mumbai International Airport Pvt. Ltd.—a joint venture between Adani Airports Holdings Ltd (74 per cent) and CIDCO (26per cent). The airport will complement the existing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), making Mumbai a global multi-airport city.
Located at Ulwe in Navi Mumbai, about 37 km from South Mumbai, NMIA is spread over 1,160 hectares (2,866 acres). The airport’s architecture is inspired by the lotus, India’s national flower, featuring 12 sculptural feature columns symbolising unfurling petals and 17 mega columns supporting the terminal roof canopies.
The first phase of the project inaugurated by PM Modi includes a single integrated terminal for domestic and international operations with a capacity of 20 million passengers per annum (MPPA). The final phase will expand the capacity to 90 MPPA.
The airport features two parallel Code F-compliant runways, each measuring 3,700 metres in length and 60 metres in width. Terminal 1 includes 66 check-in counters, 22 selfbaggage drop points, 29 aerobridges, and 10 bus boarding gates, designed to deliver a seamless passenger experience.
The cargo complex, with a capacity of 0.5 million metric tonnes annually in the initial phase, integrates fully automated cargo handling, shipment tracking, and paperless operations. It also includes temperature-controlled zones for pharmaceuticals and perishables, dedicated express cargo and drone handling zones, and specialised facilities for valuables and live animals.
NMIA is envisioned as a 5G-connected smart airport, featuring contactless processing under Digi Yatra, zero manual ID checks, and IoTenabled real-time monitoring systems. Adani OneApp will offer passengers digital access to retail, dining, and lounge services.