An incredible £1.6bn mega-airport set to accommodate 25 million new passengers every year is to open next year.
Navi Mumbai International Airport will be Mumbai’s second international airport, providing an alternative to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
The airport, which is currently under construction, has been named after the late Peasants and Workers Party of India leader Dinkar Balu Patil.
The foundation stone for the project was laid in February 2018 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but the construction commenced only in August 2021.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu and Pune MP Murlidhar Mohol confirmed the mega-airport will be operational in March 2025.
However, construction of the new airport has already faced several challenges. The northern part of the airport site had swampy marine soil that needed to be elevated to prevent flooding.
Pre-development work included flattening the Ulwe Hill, reclaiming marsh land, diverting the Ulwe River outside the airport boundary and widening the channel to 60 metres and even shifting power transmission lines
Estimated to cost £1.6billion the 3.6 square mile airport required the relocation of 2,786 from 10 villages.
The full project is scheduled for completion in 2032, by which time it will handle over 90 million passengers and 2.5 million tonnes of cargo annually.
Navi Mumbai International Airport will consist of three linked terminals, each designed to look like lotus flowers, which is India’s national flower and two runways.
The terminals will include food courts, lounges, travelators, and other facilities for passengers.
Additionally, a fourth terminal will be specifically for budget airlines, capable of serving at least 2 million passengers each year during the initial phase of construction.
The airport will be located about 21 miles (35 km) away from Mumbai’s existing international airport and will have parking space for up to 5,500 vehicles.