Phases 1 & 2 of Navi Mumbai International Airport near finish line, opening set for March 2025

The much-anticipated Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) is nearing completion, with operations slated to begin by March 31, 2025. Further, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) kicked off its ILS (Instrumental Landing System) signals testing here on Tuesday, and it will reportedly continue till Saturday. The first two phases, costing ₹19,646 crore, will handle 20 million passengers and 0.8 million metric tonnes of cargo annually.

Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Muralidhar Mohol recently inspected the site, reporting that 65% of the work, including one runway, is already complete. The airport is expected to enhance connectivity for Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan, Pune, and Western Maharashtra.

Future expansion plans include a third phase by 2028-29, increasing capacity to 30 million passengers annually, with fourth and fifth phases set for completion by 2033. Upon full development, NMIA will feature two runways and four terminals, accommodating up to 90 million passengers per year.

The project, following a public-private partnership model, involves collaboration between various government agencies and private entities. It aims to bolster regional infrastructure and economic growth while addressing community concerns.