Navi Mumbai International Airport, one of India’s most awaited greenfield aviation projects, will begin passenger operations under a new name that seeks to honour a regional leader. The state government has confirmed that the facility will be officially called ‘Loknete DB Patil Navi Mumbai International Airport’, with the final approval received from the Centre.
The renaming coincides with the airport’s ongoing dry run phase, during which technical trials and advance bookings are being conducted ahead of full-scale passenger operations. Officials said the move is intended to recognise the contribution of local leadership to the region’s development and to build a civic identity around the new aviation hub. The decision is part of a wider exercise to rename key airports across Maharashtra. Proposals have been advanced to name Pune airport after Sant Tukaram, a revered spiritual figure, and to name the Aurangabad facility after Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. These changes are awaiting central clearance. Experts believe such renaming efforts are both symbolic and political, but they also reflect attempts to root major public infrastructure in regional heritage.
Navi Mumbai International Airport is expected to play a crucial role in easing the pressure on Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, which has been operating beyond capacity for several years. With a planned handling capacity of over 60 million passengers annually once all phases are completed, the new facility has been designed with sustainability features such as integrated transport links, rainwater harvesting, and provisions for renewable energy use. Urban planners argue that renaming, while primarily symbolic, should not divert attention from ensuring the airport becomes a model for low-carbon and eco-friendly aviation. Officials also confirmed that cases filed against activists who had protested over airport naming, as well as cases registered during the pandemic period relating to restrictions, are likely to be withdrawn. The administration has described the step as a measure to safeguard livelihoods and to ensure that civic dissent does not translate into prolonged legal consequences.
Meanwhile, the city’s law enforcement agencies faced another challenge as police in Powai discovered nine African women staying illegally in a hotel after their tourist visas had expired. The surprise check revealed 15 women in total, nine of whom were from Kenya and Uganda. Police have initiated deportation procedures and booked the hotel manager for failing to comply with regulations that require reporting of foreign guests. The parallel developments underline the pressures and opportunities that accompany rapid urbanisation in Maharashtra. While the renaming of airports is aimed at building cultural recognition and identity, urban sustainability experts caution that the true measure of progress will depend on whether such megaprojects like the Navi Mumbai airport can achieve benchmarks in environmental responsibility, efficient mobility, and inclusive growth.
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