A New Era in Aviation: Navi Mumbai International Airport Opens with Cutting-Edge Digital Facilities

Image Source : The Indian Express

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first phase of the Navi Mumbai International Airport, India’s largest greenfield airport project, built at a cost of ₹19,650 crore. The airport, featuring India’s first fully digital terminal, is set to commence commercial domestic and international flights by December 2025, boosting Mumbai’s global aviation stature.

In a landmark infrastructure milestone, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the state-of-the-art Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) on October 8, 2025. Developed under a public-private partnership led by the Adani Group and CIDCO, NMIA is spread over 1,160 hectares and aims to ease congestion at Mumbai’s primary airport while enhancing India’s aviation capacity.

Key highlights and notable updates:

NMIA features India’s first fully digital terminal equipped with AI-enabled automation for seamless passenger processing, including online baggage drops, paperless boarding, e-gates, and a dedicated mobile app.

The airport’s architectural design draws inspiration from the lotus flower, symbolizing India’s cultural heritage blended with futuristic aesthetics.

Initial operations will include one runway and a terminal designed to handle 20 million passengers annually, with scalability to accommodate 90 million passengers across multiple terminals in future phases.

NMIA incorporates cutting-edge sustainability initiatives, including solar power generation of approximately 47 MW, electric bus services, and infrastructure for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) storage.

Innovative connectivity features include an Automated People Mover connecting terminals and a first-of-its-kind water taxi service linking the airport with Mumbai city.

Domestic carriers IndiGo, Akasa Air, and Air India Express have confirmed plans to operate flights from NMIA upon commencement.

The project, valued at nearly ₹19,650 crore, is expected to spur substantial economic growth and generate over 200,000 jobs across sectors such as aviation, logistics, hospitality, and real estate.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other dignitaries attended the inauguration, marking a new era in Mumbai’s urban infrastructure transformation.

PM Modi lauded NMIA as a “game-changer” that will position Mumbai alongside major global cities with multiple world-class airports, enhancing connectivity and passenger experience while fostering sustainable development.

Sources: Times of India, Economic Times, Hindustan Times, Indian Express, News18, ANI