Hills Leveled, Rivers Rerouted—India’s Newest Airport Lands After 28 Years

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India’s long-awaited Navi Mumbai International Airport officially opened on October 8, 2025, after nearly three decades of delays. Built by flattening hills and diverting rivers, the mega-project promises to ease congestion in Mumbai’s skies and handle up to 90 million passengers annually by 2032.

After years of bottlenecks, ecological debates, and engineering marvels, Mumbai finally has its second airport. The Navi Mumbai International Airport, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marks a transformative moment for India’s aviation sector. Designed to complement the overburdened Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, NMIA is poised to become one of Asia’s busiest and most advanced aviation hubs.

Key highlights:

- Engineering feat across terrain
The airport’s construction involved flattening hills, diverting two rivers, and raising land by 5–8 meters. Over 100 hectares of mangroves and 400 hectares of mudflats were cleared to make way for the facility

- Phase one capacity and future growth
The first terminal is built to handle 20 million passengers annually. By 2032, NMIA will expand to four terminals with a combined capacity of 90 million passengers and 2.5 million tonnes of cargo

- Strategic location and design
Located in Navi Mumbai, the airport is 25 km from the city center. Its design, inspired by India’s national flower—the lotus—was crafted by Zaha Hadid Architects, blending futuristic aesthetics with Indian heritage

- Boost to connectivity and commerce
Air India Express will operate 20 daily flights from NMIA, while IndiGo and Akasa Air plan to shift dozens of domestic and international routes. The cargo terminal debuts with 800,000 tons of annual capacity, vital for Mumbai’s pharma and e-commerce sectors

- General aviation and business travel
NMIA includes India’s largest general aviation terminal, capable of housing 75 business jets, catering to corporate and luxury travel demands

- Environmental concerns and safety debates
Critics highlight the ecological cost, including habitat loss and bird strike risks due to the airport’s location along migratory routes. The Bombay Natural History Society is monitoring wildlife activity to mitigate aviation hazards

- Government’s aviation push
PM Modi emphasized that India now has over 160 airports, up from 74 in 2014, and that NMIA will help farmers and fishermen connect with global markets

Sources: CNN, The Architecture and Planning News, Moodie Davitt Report