Modi Launches NMIA: The ₹19,650 Crore Digital Airport Is Here.

PM Modi Inaugurates Phase-1 of Navi Mumbai International Airport, Unveils Key Urban Transit Projects

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated Phase-1 of the Navi Mumbai International Airport, marking a major milestone in India’s infrastructure landscape and a transformative moment for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

During his visit, the Prime Minister took a visual tour of the state-of-the-art airport facilities. He is also scheduled to inaugurate the final phase of Mumbai Metro Line-3, further strengthening urban mobility across Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. Together, these initiatives aim to boost regional connectivity, ease commuter travel, and stimulate economic growth.

Developed under a public-private partnership between Adani Airport Holdings and CIDCO, the ₹19,650 crore greenfield airport is India’s first fully digital airport, equipped with AI-enabled terminals, automated services, and features such as online baggage drop, digital check-ins, and smart immigration.

Spread across 1,160 hectares, the airport will initially operate with one runway and one terminal, capable of handling 20 million passengers annually. Over time, it will expand to accommodate 155 million passengers, with four terminals and two runways planned. Commercial operations are expected to commence in December, with carriers like IndiGo, Air India Express, and Akasa Air among the first to operate.

The project is poised to generate over 2,00,000 job opportunities across aviation, IT, hospitality, and allied sectors. It will also become India’s first multimodal transport-integrated airport, connected via expressways, metro lines, suburban rail, and inland waterways—placing Mumbai among global cities like London, New York, and Tokyo, which boast multiple international airports.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.