The lotus-themed airport terminal stands tall in the town of Ulwe in the outskirts of Mumbai.

Built on reclaimed marshland at an estimated cost of around ₹20,000 crore, the Navi Mumbai airport’s Phase 1 will aid connectivity, improve passenger convenience, and bring to fruition the city’s dream of a second airport.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the facility on Wednesday. Passenger operations will begin from December, with both domestic and international flights starting from day one. Discussions are underway with airlines for short-haul overseas flights.

While the airport will gradually ramp up its handling capacity, with an intial capacity of 20 million passengers per year.

In the first month, the airport will function for twelve hours (8 am to 8 pm) with 8-10 flights per hour. These will scale up gradually to 20 and 30 movements per hour.

Facilities, check

Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd CEO BVJK Sharma said the airport has put in place measures to alleviate traveller anxiety related to car parking, airport entry, check-in process, baggage claim among others.

“We will have trusted traveller programme from day one so that people who have registered can clear immigration without having to wait in a queue,” Sharma said. There will 22 self-baggage drop kiosks to ease the check-in process.

Passengers would be able to pre-order food from multiple joints at a kiosk and get it delivered at the baggage gate. There will be retail, F&B and gaming zones in the forecourt.

The airport will also boast of a digital art programme that will offer an enriching and immersive experience of India through display and art and culture through digital means.

Works on terminal 2 on

Adani Airport Holdings Ltd CEO Arun Bansal said current traffic demand of Mumbai metropolitan region is 70-75 million and that is underserved because of capacity constraints at Mumbai airport. The Navi Mumbai airport will help address the capacity challenge.

Design work on Navi Mumbai airport’s second terminal has begun and construction expected to start during the fiscal year. The second terminal will be ready by 2029 and will add another 30 million capacity per year. The expansion will involve investment of around Rs 30,000 crore. Plans also include construction of five aircraft hangars and a cargo facilities with aim of making the airport a regional hub for freight traffic.

Plans for demolition of Mumbai airport’s terminal 1 too have been pushed back till 2029 as Navi Mumbai’s second terminal would be ready in that year. Until then terminal 1 of Mumbai will be strengthened and refurbished, Bansal said.

Published on October 6, 2025