A Maharashtra Assembly panel inspected the under-construction Navi Mumbai International Airport this week to assess development progress, cross-agency coordination, and adherence to CAG recommendations—all ahead of its projected 2025 launch. The Public Enterprises Committee, led by the assembly and summoned to oversee this landmark greenfield project, toured the Ulwe site on June 25.
Their visit followed concerns noted in a recent Comptroller and Auditor General report, summarised by the committee’s chairman, that flagged potential delays and coordination gaps among key agencies involved. The inspection sought to verify that construction timelines and institutional responsibilities remained in sync . At the site, officials examined construction of the runway, terminal buildings, airside facilities and access links. The committee expressed satisfaction with execution efforts and noted good planning standards thus far. The airport’s first phase is designed for 20 million passengers annually and includes multi-modal connectivity via roads, suburban rail and metro lines. Officials also emphasised its potential to relieve congestion at Mumbai’s existing terminal and to catalyse economic growth in the wider Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Multistakeholder updates indicate that key infrastructure—runway, taxiways, apron, ATC tower and baggage handling—is either completed or under final phases of construction, with regulatory approvals from DGCA and BCAS underway. The Airports Authority of India and DGCA conducted operational readiness inspections in February, reviewing mock check‑in processes and precision systems like ILS and PAPI, with approvals moving forward. Recent trials—including pilot tests with military transport aircraft in October 2024 and a commercial A320 landing in December 2024—mark notable milestones. Terminal construction is progressing in tandem with airside and landside civil works. CIDCO has also expedited construction of access infrastructure such as advanced roads and plans for metro connectivity via Mumbai Metro Line 8 and Navi Mumbai Metro Line 1 .
Project partners, including Adani Airport Holdings Limited and CIDCO, have held bi‑weekly review meetings since April to maintain momentum. These sessions highlight ORAT (Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer) trials and ensure regulatory compliance, infrastructure delivery, and coordinated timelines remain on track. However, stakeholders acknowledge risks remain. The CAG report warned of latent delays due to coordination mismatches or shifting regulatory timelines. The committee’s field visit appears intended to pre‑empt those issues by reinforcing inter-agency accountability and sharpening oversight on construction schedules.
The airport is now targeting operations by late 2025, building on an earlier March 2025 target announced last year. Delays in aerodrome licensing and final regulatory sign‑offs could stretch the timeline, though current signs suggest performance remains aligned with phase‑one objectives. This inspection signals a broader shift in Maharashtra’s infrastructure governance—marking a move from reactive approvals to proactive oversight. The public enterprises body’s involvement underscores the importance of sustained inter-departmental governance in delivering mega-projects that shape urban futures.
With Phase 1 on schedule, aviation experts believe the airport will significantly offload traffic from Mumbai’s existing airport and generate high-impact regional development. Its success could serve as a model for zero‑carbon, sustainable expansion—if regulatory coordination, green connectivity integration, and future access infrastructure remain in lockstep with operational readiness. The panel’s conclusion was cautiously optimistic: commendable planning, timely execution, on-site preparedness—but vigilance is key. The question remains whether this disciplined progress model can carry the project seamlessly into its operational phase by late 2025.
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