On Saturday, July 12, 2025, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis paid a site visit to the Navi Mumbai International Airport, a key upcoming aviation hub in India. Accompanied by Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, Minister Ganesh Naik, MLAs Mahesh Baldi and Manda Mhatre, and other officials, the inspection was followed by a high-level meeting to assess the progress of construction and resolve pressing infrastructure issues.

As per a post shared by the CMO Maharashtra, the review covered multiple aspects of the airport’s development, including timeline alignment, technical challenges, and urban planning requirements.

Airport Construction Nearing Completion

Industries Minister Uday Samant recently stated in the Legislative Assembly that 95% of the airport’s first-phase construction has been completed. Although originally scheduled for a late August inauguration, the launch has been pushed to September, with initial operations expected to begin on a limited scale.

According to Samant, the second phase of development will roll out a few months later, adding more capacity and service routes.

Radar Relocation Proposal to Unlock Redevelopment

A critical issue raised during recent discussions was the relocation of radar and transmission towers currently located at Dahisar and DN Nagar in North Mumbai. These installations are reportedly hindering redevelopment efforts for approximately 10 lakh middle-class residents, who await the green signal for reconstruction of ageing residential complexes.

CM Fadnavis made a direct appeal to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, emphasizing that land for new radar stations has already been allocated, and funding provisioned. "If the matter needs to go before the cabinet, do so. If it can be approved at your level, then act accordingly," he stated during the Western Region Ministers’ Conference on Civil Aviation.

Fadnavis urged aviation authorities to send their teams to inspect two available plots and finalise the relocation at the earliest, underlining the humanitarian and urban importance of this issue.

Third Airport in Mumbai Proposed at Offshore Location

Furthering his push for expansive aviation infrastructure, CM Fadnavis revealed plans for a third airport in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Vadhavan Port in Palghar, he announced that an agency has already been appointed to prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR).

This offshore airport is envisioned as a major new aviation gateway for Mumbai and is expected to begin development by 2026. If realised, this would dramatically decongest Mumbai’s aviation traffic, particularly with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport already nearing saturation.

PM Modi Credited for Navi Mumbai Airport Acceleration

CM Fadnavis lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership in expediting permissions and clearances related to the Navi Mumbai airport. He noted that the central government's swift facilitation has brought the project to its final stages.

Once operational, the Navi Mumbai International Airport is expected to significantly ease traffic at Mumbai’s primary airport, while also becoming a key logistics hub alongside the Pune and Nagpur airports, especially for cargo handling.

Looking Ahead

The Navi Mumbai International Airport is now weeks away from partial operation, as Maharashtra sets its sights on transforming its aviation infrastructure. With the radar relocation effort gaining momentum and plans for a third offshore airport on the table, Mumbai’s skyline and travel ecosystem are set for a revolutionary upgrade.

These moves are also part of a broader vision to boost regional connectivity, unlock residential redevelopment, and support economic growth through robust transportation links.

The coordination between state and central agencies, as demonstrated by CM Fadnavis’s proactive involvement, could mark a new chapter in India's infrastructure execution playbook.

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