Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) on Wednesday, which will be open for commercial operations in December. Mumbai will now be one of the few cities across the world having multiple airports, after London, New York, and Tokyo. NMIA will be the second major international airport in the Mumbai metropolitan region, and India's first-ever digital airport.
The PM is on a two-day visit to Mumbai from today (October 8), where he will also meet his UK counterpart Keir Starmer. Earlier, before heading for the inauguration event in Navi Mumbai, PM Modi himself shared the news on his X account.
While addressing the gathering at the event, the PM said, "Navi Mumbai International Airport is a project which reflects 'Viksit Bharat'...With this new airport, farmers in Maharashtra will be connected to the markets of the Middle East and Europe. This will attract investments and new businesses to the area. I congratulate the people of Maharashtra on the inauguration of this airport."
— ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2025
Adding, "Today, the entire nation is working towards 'Viksit Bharat'. A Viksit Bharat is one where there is both momentum and progress, and where public welfare is paramount and government schemes make life easier for citizens."
Mentioning affordable air travel, PM Modi said, "The new airports and the UDAAN scheme for affordable air travel have made air travel easier in the country." He also slammed Congress for sending a message of weakness during the 2008 terror attacks, despite the city being one of the most vibrant cities of India.
All you need to know about the Navi Mumbai Airport
The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) has been built under the public-private partnership of Adani Airport Holdings and CIDCO (City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra, Ltd).It will be India's first fully Digital Airport, equipped with facilities such as pre-booking, vehicle parking slots, online baggage drop, as well as immigration services. A fully automated, AI-enabled terminal will also support it.
The airport has been built in an area of 1,160 hectares, and is estimated to handle about 20 million passengers annually through one runway and terminal in its initial phase. While in its full capacity, the airport can handle 155 million passengers yearly through four terminals and two runways.
Built at Rs 19,650 crore, the airport is expected to generate over two lakh jobs in varied sectors, including aviation, logistics, IT, hospitality, as well as real estate.
Airlines, including Indigo, Air India, and Akasa Air, have reportedly shared plans to operate and link flights across different cities of the country.
With commercial operations slated to begin in December, the airport will drive about 40 percent of international traffic, estimated to rise to 75 percent. It will also ease the traffic burden on the existing Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport.
NMIA is also the first major aviation hub that will connect several transport systems, such as expressways, metros, suburban railway networks, as well as waterway services.
It is also the first airport in the country to be connected by water taxi.
The PM also inaugurated Mumbai's first fully underground metro corridor. With the inauguration of its final stretch of 10.99 kilometres between Acharya Atre Chowk and Cuffe Parade stations, the metro will now become operational across its entire route.
Phase 2B of the Mumbai Metro Line-3 is a significant enhancement to Mumbai’s infrastructure! Metro connectivity is essential for a city’s growth. This project will have a positive impact on the lives of the people of Mumbai. https://t.co/aKmhc9RtUk pic.twitter.com/ing6Mb3xD4
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 8, 2025
Earlier, a PIB release stated, "As Mumbai's first and fully underground metro line, this project is set to redefine commuting across the Mumbai Metropolitan region, offering a faster, more efficient, and modern transit solution for millions of residents."