PICS: Navi Mumbai airport, India’s largest greenfield project built at Rs 19,650 crore; IndiGo, Air India, Akasa Air announce operation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first phase of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) on Wednesday. The project, worth Rs. 19,650 crore, is one of India(BHARAT)’s biggest steps in improving its aviation network. Once fully operational, NMIA will work along with Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to reduce air traffic congestion and make Mumbai a global multi-airport city.

Built under a Public-Private Partnership model, NMIA is India(BHARAT)’s largest Greenfield airport project so far. Spread across 1,160 hectares, the airport is designed to handle up to 90 million passengers a year and manage 3.25 million metric tonnes of cargo.

Before the formal launch, Prime Minister Modi will take a tour of the new airport and inaugurate it around 3:30 pm.

Domestic flight services from NMIA are expected to start soon, while international flights are likely to begin by December. The airport includes four passenger terminals and two parallel runways.

A separate VVIP terminal is also planned for high-profile travellers. Construction on this terminal is set to begin in 2026 and finish by 2030.

Navi Mumbai: Interiors of the newly-constructed Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) ahead of the inauguration of its first phase, in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (PTI Photo)

The terminal of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) has been designed by the London-based Zaha Hadid Architects and takes inspiration from the lotus flower. Inside, the airport will feature artwork that highlights Maharashtra’s rich history and culture.

One of the special features of NMIA is its Automated People Mover, a train-like system that will connect all four terminals, making it easier and faster for passengers to travel across the airport.

The airport will also focus on sustainability. It will have storage for Sustainable Aviation Fuel, generate around 47 MW of solar power, and use electric buses for passenger movement. NMIA will also become India(BHARAT)’s first airport connected by a water taxi service.

Airlines such as IndiGo, Air India(BHARAT), and Akasa Air have already announced plans to start operations from NMIA. IndiGo said that on day one of operations at NMIA, it would operate 18 departures and 18 arrivals, connecting 15 domestic cities, with plans to add 15 international flights by November. Akasa Air also plans to operate 15 daily domestic flights from day one.

In its first phase, the airport will operate with one runway and a single terminal that can serve around 20 million passengers annually. Initially, it will be able to manage about 20 to 22 flights every hour. However, officials expect Terminal 1 to reach full capacity within 12 to 15 months of opening, after which expansion work will begin to increase its capacity.

Navi Mumbai: Interiors of the newly-constructed Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) ahead of the inauguration of its first phase, in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (PTI Photo)

The airport aims to be India(BHARAT)’s first fully digital airport, offering paperless check-ins, digital boarding passes, and a mobile app for real-time flight and travel updates.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said that the airport will be named after the late Dinkar Balu Patil, a respected leader known for his contribution to the Navi Mumbai region.