Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, inaugurated the first phase of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), built at a cost of around Rs 19,650 crore.
"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 the citizens," Modi said during the inauguration event.
Modi claimed that with this new airport, farmers in Maharashtra will be connected to the markets of the Middle East and Europe and said this will attract investment and new businesses.
#WATCH | Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra | Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates Phase 1 of the Navi Mumbai International Airport, built at a cost of around Rs 19,650 crore.
— ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2025
(Source: DD News) pic.twitter.com/ff3z7MvhsH
With this, Mumbai joins the league of metropolitan cities in the world that have multiple airports. Spread across 1,160 hectares, Navi Mumbai International Airport, upon completion of all phases, will have four terminals with a capacity of 90 million passengers per annum and a cargo capacity of 3.25 million metric tonnes, making it one of the largest aviation hubs in Asia.
This is the second airport in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region after the existing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. NMIA will also be the first airport in the country to be connected by water taxi.
"On the way to Navi Mumbai to take part in the programme marking the inauguration of Phase-1 of the Navi Mumbai International Airport. With this, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region will get its second major international airport, thus boosting commerce and connectivity. The final phase of the Mumbai Metro Line-3 will also be inaugurated. We are committed to enhancing Mumbai’s infrastructure and boosting ‘Ease of Living’ for the people of this dynamic city," PM Modi had said before the inauguration.
From congested skies to smooth soaring
The new airport will boost India's aviation capacity and ease the heavy traffic burden on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. Operations at the airport are expected to begin in December 2025, while ticket sales are likely to begin by the end of October.
In the first phase, the airport will have one terminal and one runway that will cater to 20 million passengers annually.
Earlier in the day, Sheldon Hee, Regional Vice President, Asia-Pacific at International Air Transport Association (IATA), hailed the inauguration of the airport as an important milestone in India's amazing aviation journey.
"Aviation contributes USD 53.6 billion to India's economy and supports 7.7 million jobs. Navi Mumbai Airport will ease the capacity constraints in the Mumbai region, strengthen connectivity, and bring even greater economic and social benefits to the Indian economy," he said in a statement.
