Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Mumbai’s long wait for better travel facilities is finally over with the inauguration of the Navi Mumbai International Airport.
PM Modi on Wednesday inaugurated the first phase of the Navi Mumbai International Airport, a major infrastructure project built at a cost of Rs 19,650 crore. The airport, spread over 1,160 hectares, is set to ease air traffic congestion in Mumbai and significantly increase India’s aviation capacity.
Speaking at the event, PM Modi called it a historic moment for the city.
He said that Navi Mumbai International Airport and underground metro set to transform travel and connectivity in Mumbai.
PM Modi said, “Viksit Bharat envisages `gati aur pragati` (speed and progress).”
“Our target is to make India global aviation`s Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hub by end of this decade,” PM Modi said.
The inauguration of Phase 1 of Navi Mumbai International Airport and other connectivity projects will strengthen the city`s position as a global hub of growth and opportunity. https://t.co/lYUzp3noBX
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 8, 2025
Before the official inauguration ceremony of the airport, PM Modi toured the new terminal and reviewed the airport’s modern facilities.
This is India’s largest greenfield airport project, developed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, and is the second international airport serving the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
The airport will handle 90 million passengers per annum and the cargo of 3.25 million metric tonnes per annum after it is fully completed. The NMIA is spread over 1160 hectares (2866 acres). Phase one facilitates providing 20 million passengers per annum and 0.5 million metric tonnes of cargo capacity. The airport’s ownership is held by Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd, comprising MIAL (74 per cent) and CIDCO (26 per cent). The Director General of Civil Aviation granted an Aerodrome Licence to NMIA on September 30.
Alongside the airport, PM Modi also inaugurated Phase 2B of Mumbai Metro Line-3, connecting Acharya Atre Chowk to Cuffe Parade, completed at a cost of Rs 12,200 crore. He formally dedicated the full Rs 37,270 crore Aqua Line (Mumbai Metro Line-3) to the nation, describing it as a major step in transforming the city’s urban transport.
The Aqua Line, Mumbai’s first fully underground metro line, is expected to serve 13 lakh passengers daily, improving commute times and reducing traffic congestion.
To support digital and seamless public transport, the Prime Minister also launched the Mumbai One app, which offers integrated mobile ticketing across various modes of public transport, making travel more convenient for people in Mumbai.
