BJP leader Murlidhar Mohol
Credit: PTI File Photo
Mumbai: Phase-I of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) will be operational by March 2025.
Minister of Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol on Saturday reviewed the progress of the airport, which has been named as Loknete DB Patil Navi Mumbai International Airport.
“Reviewed the progress of the upcoming NMIA with officials. The works are progressing at a brisk pace and once completed, this world-class airport will serve as a crucial alternative. We are committed to provide new travel experiences to Mumbaikars in upcoming days,” said Naidu.
“This monumental project is set to be a game changer for the development trajectory of our nation, with a capacity of 9 crore passengers per annum, when fully operational,” Mohol said.
“The Phase-I of the project is set to be launched around March 2025, serving 2 crore passengers per annum,” he said.
According to him, the NMIA is India’s first truly Multi-Modal Aviation Hub, with enhanced connectivity to expressway, highway, suburban rail, metro rail, high speed rail and even waterway connectivity.
"This connectivity will bring about ease of life to international travellers as well as citizens of Thane, Kalyan, Pune, Mumbai and overall Western Maharashtra region,” said Mohol, who is an MP from Pune.
“For generations to come, the airport will be an iconic example of the confluence of Gati & Shakti, as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.
The ministers were accompanied by Kalyan MP Dr Shrikant Shinde, Secretary of Ministry of Civil Aviation Vumlunmang Vualnam, CIDCO Vice Chairman Vijay Singhal, Airports Authority of India Chairman Sanjeev Kumar among others.
The NMIA is also expected to boost infrastructure development in the Raigad district.
Earlier, the Maharashtra government had set in motion the process to develop Third Mumbai, a large mega township that would be near to the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MRHL) and off the NMIA.
Third Mumbai would be spread across 323.44 sq km, which would have 124 villages - 80 from the Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area (NAINA), 33 from Khopta New Town Notified Area (KNTNA), two from Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Plan (MMRP) and nine from Raigad Regional Plan (RRP).