Mumbai is set to witness a significant leap in its aviation infrastructure with the proposed offshore Vadhvan Airport, which is expected to commence construction by 2026. Positioned as the third major airport for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), the project is envisioned as India’s first offshore greenfield airport and marks a critical step towards decongesting air traffic in the region.
State government officials confirmed that an agency has already been appointed to prepare the detailed project report (DPR), and pre-construction formalities are underway. Positioned near the Rs 76,000 crore Vadhvan port project in Palghar district, the offshore airport will be built on reclaimed land and is poised to act as a strategic alternative to the existing and upcoming airports in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. According to senior state officials who attended the recent Western Region Civil Aviation Conference, the plan to create a multi-airport system is not just about capacity but also economic decentralisation. Airports have long been known to catalyse regional growth, and the proposed Vadhvan Airport is expected to boost investment, tourism, and job creation in north coastal Maharashtra.
Officials cited that 24 of Maharashtra’s 36 districts already have either an airport or an airstrip, and plans are in motion to raise this number to 30. The government is also working to upgrade existing airstrips into functional airports as part of a broader regional air connectivity strategy. Simultaneously, the long-awaited second airport project for Pune at Purandar is progressing, with land acquisition expected to be completed within the next five months. This is seen as a complementary move to the state’s aviation infrastructure roadmap aimed at balancing urban and regional development.
The Vadhvan Airport project aligns with the national agenda of enhancing aviation connectivity under sustainable models. Given its offshore nature, experts believe the project will need to embed eco-friendly engineering solutions and account for marine biodiversity impacts. However, planners are optimistic that the technological and environmental challenges can be addressed through international best practices. With Vadhvan Airport’s proposed development, Maharashtra positions itself at the forefront of aviation infrastructure innovation, promising both regional uplift and a new benchmark in urban connectivity.
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