Plans for a new airport in the Mumbai region was proposed in 1997 by the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO). The Navi Mumbai airport was approved by the Indian government in 2007, and the Maharashtra government appointed CIDCO as the nodal agency for implementing the project. The project, estimated to cost ₹167 billion (US$2.0billion), was planned to be implemented in three phases, with a capacity to handle 90 million passengers and 2.5 million tonnes of cargo per annum by 2032.
GVK Group-led Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) was awarded the project in 2017. After significant delays due to land acquisition issues, the ground breaking ceremony was held in February 2018. The construction was carried out by Larsen & Toubro. In 2021, Navi Mumbai International Airport Limited (NMIAL), a special-purpose vehicle was established between Adani Airport Holdings and CIDCO for the management of the project. was executed under a Public–private partnership framework. Following pre-developmental work, the construction of the airport started in August 2021. It was inaugurated on 8 October 2025 by Indian prime ministerNarendra Modi, with commercial operations planned to commence on 25 December 2025.
The airport is equipped with a single 3,700m (12,100ft) long runway oriented in a northeast – southwest direction. After the first phase, the airport's single passenger terminal has a capacity to handle 20 million passengers per annum. The terminal buildings feature a lotus-shaped design, which will be complete once the three interconnected terminals are constructed in phases. The cargo terminal, spread over 33,000m2 (360,000sqft) is equipped to handle 0.8 million tonnes of cargo in a year.
History
Proposal
In 1997, the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) proposed the construction of a new airport at Navi Mumbai with a single runway.[5] Subsequently, the Ministry of Civil Aviation constituted a committee to examine the possibility of a second airport in the Mumbai Metropolitan Area to operate along side the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The committee examined various locations in the Mumbai region, and proposed a site at Mandwa–Rewas for the new airport. The Navi Mumbai location was deemed suitable only for a domestic airport, due to a single runway. Later, CIDCO revised its plan to incorporate two parallel runways.[6][7] The airport site was located in an area of 9.5km2 (3.7sqmi) parcel of land along the National Highway 348 near Panvel, about 35km (22mi) from the existing airport. About 2,900ha (7,200 acres) of coastal land was required for the project, with 1,320ha (3,300 acres) for the airport and 245ha (610 acres) to be developed as a mangrove park.[4]
In August 2007, the Union cabinet of the Indian government gave approval for the construction of a new greenfield airport at Navi Mumbai in a public-private partnership model.[6] In January 2008, Rail India Technical and Economic Service was tasked with preparing the master plan of the airport.[8] In 30 July 2008, the Maharashtra government appointed CIDCO as the nodal agency for implementing the project.[6] The project was planned to be implemented in three phases, with the first phase establishing an operational capacity to handle 20 million passengers per annum, which would be enlarged to handle 60-65 million in the second phase, and 90 million passengers and 2.5 million tonnes of cargo per annum by the third phase in 2032.[9][10][11] The airport was planned to have a terminal area of 250,000m2 (2,700,000sqft) and a cargo area of 100,000m2 (1,100,000sqft).[12]
Planning and development
The project received clearance from the Ministry of Defence by the end of 2010, and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change cleared the project on 23 November 2010.[13][14]IIT Bombay was appointed to conduct an environment impact assessment and Central Water and Power Research Station was tasked with the study of the hydrological impact of the airport on the surrounding water bodies.[6][15] The total project is estimated to cost ₹167 billion (US$2.0billion), with the cost for the first two phases was estimated to be ₹95 billion (US$1.1billion).[16][17] The pre-development work was estimated to cost ₹23.58 billion (US$280million), including ₹15.38 billion (US$180million) for land acquisition and ₹8 billion (US$95million) for other works.[17]
CIDCO invited global tenders for the project in February 2014.[17] The agency received nine bids and shortlisted four bidders, which was forwarded to the Project Management Committee for further scrutiny.[18] After multiple extension of the deadlines, GVK Group and GMR Group submitted final bids for the first two phases.[19] On 13 February 2017, the GVK-led Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) was announced as the winning bidder.[20][21] GVK offered CIDCO a 12.6% share in revenue, as compared to the 10.44% offered by the GMR Group.[22] While the government cleared the project in April 2017, land acquisition began only in June due to opposition from the locals. The project required the relocation of 2,786 households located across ten villages, who were compensated with ₹1,500 (US$18) per sq ft of the land, rent for 18 months, and a developed plot of land of a size equal to triple the roof area in an alternate locality.[23][24] Work was stalled again in October 2017 due to protests,[25] before resuming a week later.[26]
Construction and opening
On 18 February 2018, the Indian prime ministerNarendra Modi unveiled the foundation plaque at the ground breaking ceremony for the airport.[27] In March 2018, London-based Zaha Hadid Architects was appointed to design the airport's passenger terminal and Air Traffic Control tower, after a 12-week design competition.[28][29] CIDCO floated a tender to select the engineering, procurement, and construction contractor for the project in August 2018.[30] Based on hydrological studies conducted of the Ulwe River catchment area, it was recommended to cut a channel to divert the Ulwe River into the Moha Creek.[31] Subsequently, CIDCO completed pre-development work on the Ulwe River diversion by June 2019.[32] Other work included flattening the Ulwe Hill, reclaiming marsh land, raising the level of the project site by 5.5m (18ft), and shifting power transmission lines.[33][34]
In September 2019, GVK awarded a contract for construction of the airport to Larsen & Toubro.[35] The Adani Group took over the management of the airport project in 2021, and Navi Mumbai International Airport Limited (NMIAL), a special-purpose vehicle was established between Adani Airport Holdings and CIDCO for the purpose.[36] The construction began in August that year.[37] While initial land acquisition for the core area had been completed in 2019,[38] the entire project land was handed over only in July 2022 after resettlement measures.[39] By November 2023, Adani reported that 57% of the work for first phase has been completed.[40] On 8 October 2025, Modi inaugurated the first phase of the airport for public operations.[41] The airport is planned to start commercial operations on 25 December 2025.[42]
Facilities
The airport covers an area of 1,160ha (4.5sqmi).[43]
Runways
The airport has a single 3,700m (12,100ft) long runway 08/26 oriented in a northeast – southwest direction.[44] It is equipped with a category II Instrument Landing System with a three-degree glide angle, enabling landings at visibility levels up to 300m (980ft).[45] The airport will eventually have two parallel runways enabling simultaneous operations.[46]
Terminals
The passenger terminal has a capacity to handle 20 million passengers per annum.[47] The terminal buildings feature a lotus-shaped design, which will be complete once the three interconnected terminals are constructed in phases. Once complete, the airport will have a handling capacity of 90 million passengers. The airport is equipped with food courts, lounges, travelators, and other facilities for passengers.[48]
The airport is planned to have 67 general aviation aircraft stands, including a separate heliport.[49] Private and charter aircraft operations would be moved from the existing airport to here by the end of 2025.[50]
The domestic cargo terminal is spread over 33,000m2 (360,000sqft) and the international cargo terminal occupies 23,700m2 (255,000sqft).[46] After the first phase, the airport has a capacity to handle 0.8 million tonnes of cargo in a year.[47]
Other facilities
The airport has a 151,000m2 (1,630,000sqft) fuel farm and three aircraft hangars.[46] A temporary air traffic control tower has been built, overlooking the single runway. The tower is expected to be in service for six to seven years, after which it will be replaced by a larger tower, to be built near the terminal buildings, to provide coverage to the planned two parallel runways.[51]
Ahmedabad (begins 25 December 2025), Bengaluru (begins 25 December 2025), Chennai (begins 29 December 2025), Coimbatore (begins 29 December 2025), Delhi (begins 25 December 2025), Goa–Mopa (begins 25 December 2025), Hyderabad (begins 25 December 2025), Jaipur (begins 25 December 2025), Kochi (begins 25 December 2025), Lucknow (begins 25 December 2025), Mangaluru (begins 25 December 2025), Nagpur (begins 25 December 2025), Vadodara (begins 30 December 2025)
Connectivity
The airport is connected via the National Highway 348 which abuts the eastern boundary of the airport, and Aamra marg that runs along the western boundary. CIDCO will construct two six-lane roads along the coast to improve connectivity to the airport. The Ulwe coastal road will connect the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link to the airport while the Kharghar coastal road will connect the Kharghar to CBD Belapur via the airport.[55] Both projects are expected to be completed by early 2026.[56]
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