Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Saturday said that the Navi Mumbai International Airport will commence its operations by March 31, 2025. This comes after Scindia had said that the airport will be operational from November and December this year.
What did Scindia say about Navi Mumbai International Airport?
Speaking at a press conference, Scindia said that the airport project, which has seen an investment of Rs 18,000 crore, is 55-60% complete. He said this after carrying out a review of the project. Talking about the November-December deadline the minister said internally the target to start operations at the airport is still December 2024. However, he added, there are two types of projections – one, an over-estimated one that cannot be met, and the other, a “realistic projection with a surprise in cache, if it is completed before time”.
The minister added that personally he believes in the March 2025 deadline rather than the December 2024 one. “I have kept that cushion of three months with a hope that we will push this forward a little bit,” he said.
A Pride for India
After reviewing the Navi Mumbai airport project, which is being developed by the Adani Group in five phases, Scindia said the Navi Mumbai International Airport is not just an important infrastructure project for Mumbai or Maharashtra but is a project of pride for India. The airport is expected to have a total capacity of 9 crore passengers per annum.
The work on the project began in 2018, and the first two phases will have a capacity of handling 2 crore passengers per annum. On completion, the airport will have four terminals and two runways, Scindia revealed, adding that the second runway, four terminals, with an increased passenger capacity of 9 crore, will be created in phases three, four, and five.
The minister reported that approximately 55-60% of the physical and financial progress has been successfully accomplished.
GatiShakti model with multi-model connectivity
Scindia has said that the authorities are looking at the GatiShakti model with multi-model connectivity, adding there are multiple “pieces of puzzle” and multiple agencies involved in the project. “We are looking at road, rail and metro connectivity. We are looking at automated passenger connectivity movement within the terminal. And, therefore, all pieces of the puzzle have to come together,” he said.
As per an official release, there are also plans to have water connectivity and to connect the Navi Mumbai airport through hover craft from Colaba and through cargo from Raigad in Phase 2. The 100% green airport is being created in the first phase.
Project cost
The Navi Mumbai International Airport is being built with an investment of Rs 18,000 crore. However, when questioned about the cost of the project, Scindia said that keeping in mind the importance of the project, the authorities will do whatever it takes to ensure it is completed. “Even if it goes to Rs 20,000 crore…so the issue is not the capex amount,” the Civil Aviation Minister said.
(With PTI inputs)