Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first phase of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, and highlighted that this airport is a revolutionary project that would make Navi Mumbai one of Asia's leading connectivity hubs.
During the inauguration, Prime Minister Modi emphasized how the airport might link Maharashtra's farmers with international markets in the Middle East and Europe, enabling fresh produce, fruits, vegetables, and fishery products to reach global markets swiftly. It's anticipated that the airport will significantly decrease export expenses for SMEs, promote both domestic and foreign investment, and aid in the establishment of new companies in the area.
India’s largest greenfield airport is spread over 1160 hectares. First airport to have multi-modal connectivity via expressway, metro, railway, and water taxi. The airport has been nearly 20 years in the making, a process that involved flattening hills, diverting rivers, and bridging creeks.
Navi Mumbai Airport Phase One alone gives the city a terminal built to handle 20 million passengers annually, immediately easing the strain on Mumbai’s existing airport, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International, or BOM. With plans to expand to 90 million passengers once fully operational, the new airport will initially handle 20 million passengers annually.
The new airport’s first phase's cargo capacity is 0.5 million metric tons annually. In Phase 1, the Navi Mumbai International Airport will have two runways and four terminals; in Phase 2, the airport will have four runways, several terminals, and facilities specifically designed to handle express cargo and perishables.
Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), a division of Adani Airport Holdings, and the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) partnered to build Navi Mumbai International Airport. Adani Airports Holdings Limited owns 74% of Navi Mumbai International Airport Private Limited (NMIAL), which is in charge of managing the new airport. CIDCO owns 26% of the company.
As airlines start expanding their flights, passengers may expect fewer queues, easier biometric check-ins, and more seamless connections, according to airport officials. This airport will be the first in India to be entirely digital. It will have amenities including online luggage drop and immigration services, as well as the ability to reserve parking spaces in advance.
A huge real estate boom has been accelerated by the opening of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA); in the last four years, home prices in Ulwe, Panvel, Taloja, and Kharghar have already increased by up to 74%.
According to Anarock Research, navi mumbai residential property prices have increased by 20–40% over the past three years, while land rates in Ulwe, Panvel, Taloja, and Kharghar have increased by 50–60%. Residential costs increased by 40% in Ulwe, the area where the airport is located, and by 20% in Kharghar during that time.
Property developers started a number of projects as soon as the airport, which was supposed to be the biggest in the nation when it was fully operational, was opened. In the last three years, around 45 million square feet of residential space have been introduced throughout Navi Mumbai, with the four main micromarkets accounting for about 67% of this supply.
FAQ,s
Q1. What is the Navi Mumbai International Airport project?
A: It is a new international airport near Navi Mumbai built to reduce the load on Mumbai’s main airport, and it marks a major infrastructure milestone.
Q2. How does the airport affect real estate?
A: With the airport becoming operational, nearby areas like Ulwe, Panvel, Dronagiri, Kharghar are witnessing a surge in real estate demand and price appreciation.