Navi Mumbai International Airport: A Leap Forward in Aviation and Real Estate

The inauguration of the Navi Mumbai International Airport marks a significant milestone in India’s aviation sector, set to boost connectivity and transform the real estate landscape of Navi Mumbai.

Navi Mumbai International AirportReal EstateAviationInfrastructureEconomic DevelopmentReal Estate MumbaiOct 09, 2025

Navi Mumbai International Airport: A Leap Forward in Aviation and Real Estate

Real Estate Mumbai:Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated Phase One of the Navi Mumbai International Airport, a project that has been in the making for decades. Built at a cost of ₹19,650 crore, it is India’s largest greenfield airport project, developed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. With this inauguration, Mumbai joins the ranks of select global cities like London and New York, which have more than one operational airport.

Designed by London-based Zaha Hadid Architects, the terminal structure draws inspiration from the lotus flower and will showcase art that celebrates Maharashtra’s history and culture. The new airport, spread over 1,160 hectares, is set to significantly boost India’s aviation capacity and ease the heavy traffic burden on Mumbai’s existing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.

The greenfield Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) is a 74:26 joint venture between Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL) and City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO). The airport is being built in five phases, with the launch phase expected to accommodate 20 million passengers per annum (MPPA) and handle 0.5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo. Upon full completion, NMIA will have the capacity to serve 90 MPPA and handle 3.2 MMT of cargo annually.

Addressing a gathering after the inauguration, PM Modi said, “Now Mumbai has a new airport, which will be Asia’s largest connectivity hub.” He further added, “Navi Mumbai International Airport is a project which reflects ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India).” The new airport will play a pivotal role in transforming travel and connectivity in Mumbai, enhancing economic opportunities by connecting farmers in Maharashtra to markets in the Middle East and Europe.

The Navi Mumbai International Airport was first conceived in the 1990s but remained an idea for nearly three decades. The inauguration of the project is a tribute to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation) meetings, where he reviews the progress of key projects. It was only seven years ago that PM Modi unveiled the foundation plaque at the groundbreaking ceremony for the airport in Mumbai on February 18, 2018. The project was completed on October 8, 2025, within a span of seven years.

The commercial operations at the airport are set to begin within two months with a capacity of 20 million passengers in the first phase. Once fully commissioned, the airport will carry 90 million passengers annually with four terminals and two parallel runways on completion of the second phase, a timeline for which is yet to be finalized. In the first phase, the terminal features extensive facilities including 66 check-in points, 22 self-service baggage drop stations, 29 passenger boarding aerobridges, and 10 gates for bus boarding.

The key features of the airport include a futuristic design and eco-friendly innovations. The airport is set to ease congestion at Mumbai’s existing airport, which currently is the busiest single-runway airport in the world, handling over 60 million passengers annually. On average, the existing Mumbai airport handles over 900 aircraft movements in a 24-hour operational cycle.

A key feature of Navi Mumbai International Airport is that it is Bharat’s first truly multimodal airport, seamlessly connected with expressways, highways, metro rail, suburban railways, and water taxis. The NMIA Aerocity is being developed as Maharashtra’s next big business address, comprising Grade-A office towers, co-working spaces, 5-star hotels, convention centers, and retail promenades. It also includes MRO and aviation-linked industries, integrated logistics, and cargo hubs linked to the JNPT port.

The NMIA Aerocity is likely to improve upon GMR Aerocity near IGI Airport, which became a high-value business zone within five years of the airport being opened. It is destined to pull corporate clients and tenants from congested Mumbai, making Navi Mumbai a preferred business destination. The Navi Mumbai International Airport is also set to fast redraw the real estate map of the region, changing the face of New Mumbai from a satellite city to a global city of world-class standards. Navi Mumbai, once developed as a satellite city, is on the threshold of becoming a global commercial and residential hub with far-reaching economic potentials.

While the Mumbai Metropolitan Region has now been blessed with two airports, the next major development is the Noida International Airport (NIA) in Delhi NCR, scheduled to be inaugurated on October 30, 2025. The first phase, to be inaugurated now, includes a single runway and a passenger terminal with the capacity to serve 12 million passengers per year. Technical installations, finishing touches, and an Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) programme are currently underway to ensure smooth functioning. Once fully developed by 2050, with six runways, NIA will be India’s largest airport, capable of handling 70 million passengers annually.

Apart from big-bang greenfield airports at Navi Mumbai and Delhi-NCR, another silent aviation revolution is unfolding fast in the country under the regional connectivity programme, UDAN. Prime Minister Modi noted that the number of airports in India has increased from 74 in 2014 to over 160, making air travel more accessible. The UDAN programme has had a significant impact, with the backward state of Bihar, once a poster boy of ‘BIMARU’ states, now boasting four operational airports: Patna, Gaya, Darbhanga, and Purnia, with seven additional airports slated for development.

India, one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world, has already emerged as the world’s fifth-largest aviation market, handling 211 million air passengers last year, a growth of 11.1 per cent compared to 2023. The country is set to soon become the world’s third-largest overall, combining both domestic and international air traffic. Despite the current low penetration of air services, which accounts for barely 3 per cent of all passenger traffic, the fast-paced growth of new greenfield airports and capacity expansion of existing ones will soon bring India’s aviation sector on par with the world’s top markets, the USA and China.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the total cost of the Navi Mumbai International Airport?

The total cost of the Navi Mumbai International Airport is ₹19,650 crore.

Who are the key partners in the Navi Mumbai International Airport project?

The key partners in the Navi Mumbai International Airport project are Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL) and City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO).

What is the capacity of the Navi Mumbai International Airport in the first phase?

In the first phase, the Navi Mumbai International Airport will accommodate 20 million passengers per annum (MPPA) and handle 0.5 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo.

How will the Navi Mumbai International Airport impact real estate in the region?

The Navi Mumbai International Airport is expected to transform the real estate landscape of Navi Mumbai, making it a global commercial and residential hub with far-reaching economic potentials.

What is the significance of the Navi Mumbai International Airport being a multimodal airport?

The significance of the Navi Mumbai International Airport being a multimodal airport is that it is seamlessly connected with expressways, highways, metro rail, suburban railways, and water taxis, enhancing connectivity and convenience for travelers.