The Navi Mumbai International Airport is a greenfield airport located at Ulwe, Navi Mumbai. It is located in east Mumbai in the Raigad District and is around 18 km from Ulwe and Panvel. Proposed to be named as the DB Patil Navi Mumbai Airport, the project is being developed by the Navi Mumbai International Airport Limited (NMIAL). GVK designed and developed the Navi Mumbai International Airport, which is a lotus-inspired airport. In 2021, GVK exited the airport business by selling its shares to the Adani Airports Holdings Limited. NMIA would work in parallel with the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) and going forward will serve over 90 million passengers per annum, which is twice the capacity of the CSMIA.
Navi Mumbai International Airport: Key facts
| Official name | DB Patil Navi Mumbai Airport |
| Location | Ulwe, Navi Mumbai |
| Phases | 5 |
| Area | 1,160 hectare |
| Developing agency | Navi Mumbai International Airport Limited (NMIAL), an SPV by Adani Airports Holdings Limited and Cidco. |
| Other names | Navi Mumbai International Airport, New Mumbai Airport, Navi Mumbai Airport |
| Project cost | Rs 17,000 crore |
| Expected operation date | Phase-I is expected to be operational from September 2025 |
When will the Navi Mumbai International Airport be inaugurated?
According to media reports, the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) of Adani Airport Holdings Ltd. may be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi by September 2025. Although no dates have been mentioned, media reports suggest that the inauguration may coincide with PM Modi’s 75th birthday. Navi Mumbai locations leading to the airport including Kharghar, Belapur CBD etc. have signboards of directions towards Navi Mumbai International Airport placed in the city.
Navi Mumbai International Airport: Map
Source: PIB
Navi Mumbai International Airport to start with 12-hour operationsÂ
In order to test the stability of the systems and streamlining the working processes, the NMIA will initially work for a 12 hour shift and then gradually shift to a 24 hour shift. For the first two months, the airport will operate from 8 AM to 8 PM.
The NMIA will initially start with domestic operations. Indigo, Akasa Air and Air India will operate domestic flights from this airport from day 1 of operations. International operations at this airport is expected to start from May 2026. Initially, there are plans to start around 8-10 air traffic movements per hour which will be expanded to around 30 air traffic movements per hour by April 2026.
Navi Mumbai International Airport: Connectivity
Following the Prime Minister’s vision to create multimodal connectivity under the Gati Shakti Yojana, the Navi Mumbai International Airport will have road, rail and metro connectivity.
The airport was planned with dual entrances – from the East and the West, with connectivity through expressway, suburban rail, metro and water transport.
By road
In three directions – NH 4B (348), the Sion-Panvel Highway and through the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link.
Elevated corridor linking Thane and NMIA
The Maharashtra government on August 19, 2025 approved the construction of a 25-km-long elevated corridor to link Thane with the upcoming Navi Mumbai international airport.
By rail
The airport will be connected to rail by Targhar Railway Station. The Navi Mumbai International Airport may have a station on the 767-km Mumbai-Hyderabad High-Speed Rail (Bullet Train) project.
By metro
The Mumbai Metro Gold Line ( also known as Airport Expressline or Mumbai Metro Line 8) will help in easy connectivity between Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and the Navi Mumbai International Airport. The MMRDA has asked Cidco to come up with a detailed DPR for this line. The line will have a total of 8 stations with 6 stops in between and cover the entire distance in 30 minutes.
By water
Options are being explored to connect the airport through hovercraft from Colaba and through cargo from Raigad in Phase 2 of the Navi Mumbai International Airport.
The Navi Mumbai International Airport will be the first airport in India that will be supported by water taxi services. While previously Water Taxis were developed by Cidco and were launched to provide connectivity from Nerul jetty to South Mumbai, it didn’t see much public acceptance. However, this time, Mumbai will have technical support from Kochi Water Metro project that is very popular down south and work towards providing connectivity to around major points in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad etc.
Inside look of the Navi Mumbai International Airport
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Source: Bombaybubble InstagramÂ
- The Navi Mumbai International Airport has been designed by Zaha Hadid Architects.
- The airport will have three interconnected terminal buildings shaped like a lotus.
- The terminal buildings will include food courts, lounges, travellators and other facilities for passengers.
- The airport will boast of the ultra-fast baggage handling system that uses 360-degree barcode scanning. This will ensure accuracy and speed. Also, future phases of the airport are planned in such a way that passengers can check in luggage within the city itself, which will help ensure seamless, luggage-free airport transfers.
NMIA to collect interim user development fee of up to Rs 1,225
Regulator Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) has permitted the levy of the user development fee (UDF) of up to Rs 1,225 at the Navi Mumbai International Airport on an ad-hoc basis for FY 25-26, mention media reports.
Under this, passengers flying out from the NMIA will have to pay Rs 620 for domestic flights and Rs 1,225 for international flights as the User Development Fee (UDF).
Passengers who are arriving at the NMIA have to pay Rs 270 for domestic flights and Rs 525 for international flights, mentioned the AERA order that ran to 42 pages.
The AERA will be allowing levy of the UDF until March 31, 2026 or till final determination of regular tariff, whichever is earlier. “The revenue to be collected by NMIAL on an ad-hoc basis in the interim period shall be accounted for by the authority during the regular tariff determination exercise of NMIA,” the order said.
What is the estimated project cost of the Navi Mumbai International Airport?
The estimated project cost to develop the Navi Mumbai International Airport is around Rs 17,000 crore. The airport has been developed by Adani Airport Holdings and City And Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (Cidco). The Adani Group, together with the Cidco, formed a special purpose vehicle (SPV) – the Navi Mumbai International Airport Limited (NMIAL), the developing agency of the Navi Mumbai Airport. While Adani has 74% of the stake in the airport, Cidco has 26% stake.
Navi Mumbai International Airport: Features
- With the development of the Navi Mumbai International Airport in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), Mumbai will be the first city in India to have two operational international airports.
- The Navi Mumbai International Airport will be the first airport in the country with automated passenger movement within its 1,600 hectares for 10 km each on the city-side and air side.
- The airport will be an eco-friendly airport. Onsite solar energy will be generated and only electric vehicles will be used here.
- By 2032, the Navi Mumbai International Airport will handle 0.25 crore tonne of cargo and over 9 crore passengers.
Problem areas near Navi Mumbai International Airport
One of the problem areas identified near the NMIA is the presence of illegal meat trade shops operating in Ulwe that is around 3km from the runway, mention media reports. This can lead to issues like bird hit in the engine that is also believed to be one of the reasons for the Ahmedabad London Air India air crash that claimed over 241 lives. Meat shops attract large birds like kites, hawks etc. which accidentally can hit the engine of the aeroplane thus resulting in accidents. The DGCA has already issued several warnings in this regard.
Navi Mumbai International Airport: Project details
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on February 18, 2018, laid the foundation stone for the Navi Mumbai International Airport.
Structural details
- Apron area: 7,20,000 sqft
- Terminal area: 1,80,000 sqft
- Parking for 10 Code C aircraft
Two runways
Runway 08L/26R: 3,700 by 60 metre
Runway 08R/26L: 3,700 by 60 metre
Navi Mumbai International Airport: Project implementation stages
The airport construction started in August 2021. The Navi Mumbai Airport will be implemented in five phases. Phases 1 and 2 will begin with one runway, one terminal and a passenger capacity of two crore. Phases 3, 4 and 5 will include the second runway, four terminals and an increased passenger capacity of nine crore.
L&T Construction is responsible for Terminal 1’s construction, which started in November 2022. It includes a 3,700-metre runway, apron systems, taxiway systems and airfield ground lighting. L&T will be responsible for constructing supporting infrastructure, such as parking.
Pre-development work of Phase-2 to start October 2025
The pre-development work of Phase -2 of the Navi Mumbai International Airport is expected to start by October 2025, where second terminal and an additional runway will be constructed to meet future expectations. This is expected to accommodate another 30-35 million passengers per year. The design of the second terminal will be based on the outcome of an architectural competition.
Navi Mumbai International Airport: Real estate impact
Navi Mumbai, which was once constructed as a satellite city for Mumbai, has now become as big as the parent city. This is proven by the fact that it will soon have its own international airport. As a planned city, more nodes in Navi Mumbai are opening up with new infrastructure, such as the Navi Mumbai Metro and the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, reducing the distance to any point in the MMR. With such growing advantages, the real estate market shows positive growth. Experts point out that once Phase 1 of the Navi Mumbai Airport becomes operational, most places in the satellite city will see a surge in real estate prices.
A case in point is that of Ulwe. When the location was first introduced residentially maybe around 2011-12, Ulwe was not a very sought after property destination, because this node was not in line with the old harbour line network. The place had just a few developers who were working on projects that also only because of the announcement of the airport. However, people were still unsure if the airport would be constructed here or not. Also, the location lacked reputed developers, and since RERA hadn’t been implemented yet, it was a risky proposition for people to invest their hard-earned money in a location that didn’t actually show how it would change once it develops. However, today, the entire area has seen a sea change in demand. This is located close to the starting point of the MTHL and reaching South Mumbai is exactly or less than 20 minutes from here. “I bought my 2 BHK in Ulwe for Rs 38 lakh in 2015. Connectivity was not great at that time here, with even the harbour train starting only in 2018. However, in 10 years, this place has seen a great change, and today buying a property is beyond my means,” says Ujwal Sharma, a resident of Ulwe.
Similarly, on the other side you have the Navi Mumbai International Airport being developed, which will soon be operational. There is the Mumbai Pune Expressway in close vicinity that will add to the connectivity. News reports suggest that Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has acquired an industrial land parcel, spread over 5,286 acre that is located near Navi Mumbai Airport, JNPT and the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link. Similarly, Adani Realty is likely to launch a Rs 1000 crore plus township near the airport. Developers, including Godrej Properties, Adani Realty, L&T Realty, Wadhwa Developers, Hiranandani, Kalpataru and Raheja, are increasingly expanding their presence in Navi Mumbai, gauging the demand that is set to come.
Cidco to develop 667-acre Navi Mumbai Aerocity near NMIA
Cidco is developing a 667-acre Navi Mumbai Aerocity near the soon-to-be inaugurated Navi Mumbai International Airport. The project will include allocation of land for residential real estate, commercial real estate, and retail spaces including shops, offices, and businesses. Media reports highlight that over 120 acres will be set aside for the above-mentioned development. Cidco has already called out tenders from consultants to design a detailed Master Plan. The Navi Mumbai Aerocity will be connected to other huge infrastructure projects in the satellite city such as the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, Navi Mumbai Metro, and the expanded harbour railway networks.
With this, Navi Mumbai will join the list of Aerocities in India that are being developed or already operational in India, including Ayodhya, Delhi, Devanahalli, Durgapur, Jewar, Mohali, and Hyderabad.
Housing.com POV
With the Navi Mumbai International Airport becoming a reality, the infrastructure game of Navi Mumbai is growing strong. The city is seeing an influx of commercial properties with the hospitality industry especially showing greater presence. The Navi Mumbai International Airport, the MTHL, the Navi Mumbai Metro, connectivity to other parts of Mumbai through rail and road and water taxi will boost investment and lifestyle opportunities. Developers, including Godrej Properties, Adani Realty, L&T Realty and Raheja, are increasingly expanding their presence in Navi Mumbai, gauging the demand that is set to come. Finally, with news of plans to develop a Third Mumbai, the real estate market in this area is expected to surge further.
FAQs
Will Navi Mumbai airport have domestic flights?
According to CAPA India, the Navi Mumbai International Airport is expected to connect 26 domestic and 13 foreign cities.
How many terminals will the Navi Mumbai Airport have?
Phases 1 and 2 of the Navi Mumbai International Airport will have one terminal and Phases 3, 4 and 5 will have four additional terminals.
Is the Navi Mumbai Airport domestic or international?
The Navi Mumbai Airport is an international airport and will connect foreign cities in addition to Indian destinations.
When will the Navi Mumbai Airport construction start operations?
According to reports, the Navi Mumbai International Airport may start operations by September/October 2025. Reports suggest PM Modi will inaugurate the airport in September, 2025.
Which is the biggest airport in India?
The Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi is the biggest airport in India.
(Featured image: GVK)
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