Summary:
- DB Patil Navi Mumbai International Airport is India’s largest greenfield airport.
- First phase to begin operations in two months.
- The airport initially handles 20 million passengers annually.
PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA Modi inaugurated the DB Patil Navi Mumbai International Airport, India’s largest greenfield airport. Commercial operations will begin in approximately two months, with a first-phase capacity of 20 million passengers annually.
The airport, owned by the Adani Group and CIDCO, is designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. It includes Terminal 1, one runway, 29 aero bridges and specialized facilities for express deliveries, hazardous materials, animals and high-value items, according to the report by Economic Times.
"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 investment and new businesses to the area," Modi said, according to India Today.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, his deputies Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu and industrialist Gautam Adani were present at Navi Mumbai airport launch.
“Navi Mumbai has emerged as a symbol of new hope and aspirations,” said Kinjarapu. “With this world-class international airport, it now stands as a symbol of India’s growing stature on the global stage. Today’s occasion is significant not just for Maharashtra, but for the entire nation.”
The airport will operate alongside Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, reducing congestion at India’s busiest single-runway airport. IndiGo, Air India and Akasa Air have confirmed flights from the new facility, which has been assigned the IATA code NMI.
India’s Ministry of Tourism reported that the U.S. was India’s largest inbound tourism market in 2024, sending 1.8 million visitors. It also ranked among the top destinations for Indian travelers, receiving more than 2.1 million visits last year.
