Mumbai's busy Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) will be shut for 6 hours on May 2 for pre-monsoon maintenance. The CSMIA authorities informed that both the runways ar the Mumbai airport — RWY 09/27 and 14/32 — will remain closed from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm as part of the facility's monsoon contingency plan.  

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All usual operations at the airport will resume as usual post 5:00 pm, Mumbai airport authorities said, and added that a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) has been issued in this regard.  

The maintenance work being done at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport is a part of the airport's monsoon contingency plan which is essential to mitigate and respond to any possible issues that might arise during the heavy rainfall that the metropolis faces during the Monsoon season.

The authorities stated that this is being done to ensure business continuity and that the airport and all flights function as per schedule. The official statement said, "...to ensure operational continuity during the monsoon months, timely check and repair work on the runways and associated facilities is of utmost importance to maintain its health and operational continuity." 

The statement further reads, "Mumbai's CSMIA has strategically and meticulously planned the runway maintenance work in collaboration with its multiple stakeholders, including airlines and aviation authorities. As a collective goal to ensure zero inconveniences to its passengers, the CSMIA has intimated all its relevant stakeholders six months in advance. This has also helped airlines to plan their flight schedules accordingly."

Mumbai Airport Shut: Maintenance procedure

Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport is one of the world's busiest single runway airports. It witnesses almost 900 flight movements each day, with a network of runways, taxiways and aprons encompassing nearly 1,033 acres. This yearly practice of runway maintenance work involves specialists in engineering and airside teams inspecting the runway surface for micro-texture and macro-texture wear and tear that may have occurred due to day-to-day operations and help strengthen the airside strip.