Mumbai: The much-anticipated inauguration of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) has been pushed back by at least two weeks following heavy rains across Mumbai and the Konkan region that hampered final preparations.
The ceremony, originally scheduled for September 30 and set to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has now been deferred to October due to waterlogging on access roads around the new airport site in Ulwe.
The Prime Minister was also expected to flag off the last phase of the Mumbai Metro 3 line from Worli to Cuffe Parade during the same visit, but that event too has been rescheduled.
Air India, IndiGo, Akasa to operate daily flights to multiple destinations
While the official launch has been delayed, commercial operations remain on track. Air India has confirmed services from the new hub, joining IndiGo and Akasa Air. Its subsidiary, Air India Express, will begin with 20 daily flights to 15 Indian cities and plans to expand to 55 daily departures, including international routes, by mid-2026. The airline aims to reach 60 daily flights by the end of that year.
IndiGo is preparing to launch with 18 daily flights to more than 15 destinations, scaling up to 140 within 18 months, of which 30 will be international. Akasa Air will start with 15 daily domestic services before expanding to more than 300 domestic and 50 international flights each week.
NMIA to compliment Mumbai’s existing aviation infrastructure
Developed under a public–private partnership with Adani Airports, NMIA will become the second major aviation hub for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, complementing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The first phase, expected to open by late 2025, is designed to handle 20 million passengers and half a million tonnes of cargo annually. Once fully completed, the airport is projected to accommodate 90 million passengers and 3.2 million tonnes of cargo every year.
Work is also progressing on major infrastructure projects to enhance connectivity. The City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) has issued a tender to review the Detailed Project Report for Metro Line 8, a high-speed link between the two Mumbai airports. The 34.9 km corridor, with an estimated cost of Rs 20,000 crore, is expected to be operational by 2029 and carry 900,000 passengers daily.