Navi Mumbai: Mumbai will now have another airport even as the current Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), has become overburdened, handling over 50 million passengers annually. PM Narendra Modi arrived in Mumbai to inaugurate the airport, which has been developed at a cost of Rs.19,646 crore, and aims to decongest the existing airport, while offering airlines and flyers a refined flying experience.
“Now Mumbai has a new airport, which will be Asia’s largest connectivity hub.” PM Modi said this while addressing a gathering at the airport’s inauguration.
“With this new airport, farmers in Maharashtra will be connected to the markets of the Middle East and Europe. This will attract investment and new businesses to the area,” he added.
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
Even as the government and the developer Adani Airport Holdings Ltd, are celebrating the move, Mumbaikars aren’t amused, considering the lack of connectivity options from the city.
The easiest way to reach the airport is through the newly constructed Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, but the immense challenge of reaching the airport for residents from the Western suburbs has been a big challenge, with many netizens pointing out that it’s easier for Pune residents to reach the airport than for those living in the city, as per estimates from Google Maps.
Borivali → Navi Mumbai International Airport: 67 km, 1 hr 49 min
Baner, Pune → Navi Mumbai International Airport: 107 km, 1 hr 42 min🚀🚀
My petition: Rename Western Express Highway (WEH) to Western Endless Highway (WEH) 😭😭😂
And yes, I know, Borivali should just stick… pic.twitter.com/9cawvPGFKG
— Mehul R. Thakkar (@MehulThakkar_) October 2, 2025
Despite its flaws, the existing CSMIA Airport has never had any problems with connectivity, as the airport is bang in the middle of the city, even though pilots face challenges landing there due to the intersecting runways and the long wait times to land.
Besides the Trans Harbour Link, the government hasn’t made it easier to reach the airport, with users complaining about the lack of signage to the airport along with the much-delayed Golden Line metro that will link the CSMIA to the new Navi Mumbai Airport, even as construction is yet to start. Critics also point out that the airport, located at Ulwe in Navi Mumbai, is quite close to the Karnala Bird Sanctuary, the nesting grounds for migrant birds. This increases the chances of bird hits to airplanes, a challenge that many airports face regularly.
The real impact of this grand infrastructure plan will only be felt in the coming months following the commencement of operations. For now, this remains an announcement, even as the PM then proceeds to inaugurate the last underground stretch of the Mumbai Metro Line 3, or ‘Aqua Line’, which will boost connectivity in the city and reduce dependence on the overcrowded Mumbai locals.
