New Delhi, 22nd Oct 2025: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) at Ulwe in Raigad district of Maharashtra. This marks the end of a 40-year-long wait for the residents of Navi Mumbai.
Speaking at the event, Modi said that Mumbai has now received a new international airport, which will become Asia’s largest connectivity hub. It will also be India’s first airport connected with water taxi services.
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First Airport with Water Taxi Connectivity; 2 Crore Annual Passenger Capacity
Today marks the fulfillment of a long-awaited dream for the people of Mumbai, as a massive new airport has been established. Additionally, Mumbai now has access to a fully underground metro system.
The first phase of the Navi Mumbai International Airport has been inaugurated, which includes one terminal and a runway. In this phase, the airport will have a capacity to handle 20 million passengers annually, and can facilitate 60 flights per day. Around ₹19,647 crore has been spent on this phase.
A total of four terminals will be built. Once fully constructed, the airport will be capable of handling 90 million passengers annually, with 300 flights operating daily.
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Airport Designed in Lotus Shape; Operations Begin December
NMIA has been designed in the shape of a lotus. Regular flights are expected to begin from December this year. This will be Mumbai’s second international airport and will be named after farmer leader D. B. Patil—a prominent activist who fought for the rights of farmers and locals displaced by the airport project.
D. B. Patil played a key role in land acquisition negotiations, ensuring that affected villagers received fair treatment.
The airport is being built by a partnership between Adani Group (74% share) and the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) of Maharashtra.
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World-Class Facilities at NMIA
The airport will feature:
Spacious lounges
Single-lane security
Advanced terminals
Online baggage check-in kiosks
International-standard baggage handling system
Next-gen check-in zones
Automated People Mover (APM)
AI-powered, fully automated terminal
Fully digital systems, making it India’s first completely digital airport
The design has been developed by renowned London-based architects Zaha Hadid Architects.
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How to Reach NMIA
To ensure quick and convenient access, infrastructure like the Atal Setu (trans-harbour link) and Metro Line 8 is being rapidly developed.
Passengers from Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Mumbai, and its suburbs can reach the airport via:
Mulund
Airoli
Thane–Kalwa–Vite–Diva–Nerul–Belapur–Ulwe route
Eastern Expressway
This route will cover 35–40 km.
Additionally, one can reach the airport via:
Western Expressway
JVLR
Eastern Expressway
Stony Creek Trik Road
(distance: 40–45 km)
From Worli, passengers can also access the airport via Atal Setu and Ulwe–Belapur route (distance ~35 km; travel time ~70 minutes).
According to officials, passengers from areas like Andheri, Santacruz, Vile Parle, and Bandra may prefer using Atal Setu to avoid heavy crowds at Mumbai’s existing airport, even if it means taking a longer route.
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50 AC Buses to Connect the City to the Airport
To improve passenger convenience, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation will launch 50 air-conditioned buses connecting the city to the airport.
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