"The Navi Mumbai International Airport stands as more than just an infrastructure endeavor for Mumbai or Maharashtra; it embodies a source of national pride," asserted Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia during his visit to Navi Mumbai.

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Tasked with overseeing the airport's progress, the Minister shared updates with the media on the project's status.

Valued at eighteen thousand crores, the initiative is poised to significantly enhance Mumbai's connectivity and is unfolding in five distinct phases, with completion reaching 55-60% both physically and financially. Commencing in 2018, the commercial operation is scheduled to commence by March 31, 2025.

The initial two phases will see the creation of one runway, one terminal, and a two-crore passenger capacity. Subsequent phases, spanning 3, 4, and 5, will introduce a second runway, four terminals, and an expanded passenger capacity of nine crore.

Aligning with the Prime Minister's vision for multimodal connectivity under the Gati Shakti Yojana, Shri. Scindia emphasized that the Navi Mumbai International Airport will integrate road, rail, and metro connections, with future considerations for water connectivity.

The airport's road connectivity will extend in three directions: NH 4B (348), the Sion Panvel Highway, and via Atal Setu. The Targhar Railway station will provide rail connectivity, while metro links include metro line 2D: DN Nagar to Mandale – Mankhurd, metro line 8: Mumbai Airport to Navi Mumbai Airport, and Navi Mumbai Pendhar Belapur Taloja metro line. Future plans encompass hovercraft connectivity from Colaba and cargo connectivity from Raigad in Phase 2.

Beyond these developments, Shri. Scindia highlighted that the Navi Mumbai International Airport aims to be the first in the country with automated passenger movement within its expansive 1600-hectare premises, spanning ten kilometers on both the city and airside. The inaugural phase is dedicated to creating a one hundred percent green airport.

Forecasts anticipate heightened air traffic with the airport's completion. The Government envisions doubling domestic passenger traffic from the current 15 crore to 30 crores by 2030 and is committed to establishing over 200 airports across the country within the next six years. Shri. Jyotiraditya Scindia expressed gratitude to the State Government and CIDCO for their unwavering support in adhering to the project's timelines.