Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday (January 21) announced that he has discussed a proposal to deploy 10,000 water taxis to transport passengers from Mumbai’s distant suburbs to the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport.
Speaking at the ICERP 2025 exhibition, Gadkari revealed that he had already consulted Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis about the idea.
The water taxis, he said, could connect suburbs like Virar along the Arabian Sea and Kalyan-Dombivli near Thane Creek to the new airport in just 70 minutes.
“Taking from all side of Mumbai, from Vasai-Virar to Kalyan-Dombivali, it (water taxis) can connect to new airport in 70 minutes. Already I have discussed the proposal with the CM. We need 10,000 water taxis in Mumbai,” he said.
Passenger flights are expected to start at the new airport in April next year, with plans for a metro rail connection to improve passenger movement.
Gadkari also suggested that the 10,000 water taxis could be made using fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) material, which is gaining popularity in the shipping industry, and encouraged cost reduction in its production.