Infrastructure
First Phase of $2.5B India Airport Nears Completion
The Navi Mumbai airport is expected to open this year.
Photo courtesy of CIDCO
Over two decades, the builders of Navi Mumbai International Airport have navigated a complex journey through environmental clearances, land acquisition hurdles, engineering challenges, and extensive community negotiations. Phase 1 development of the $2.5-billion, 1,160-hectare greenfield airport in Ulwe is set for inauguration by India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sept. 30. Full-scale operations are expected by year's end, alongside the launch of Phase 2 construction.
Navi Mumbai International Airport Pvt Ltd (NMIAL) holds a majority stake in a public-private partnership with City and Industrial Development Corp. of Maharashtra Ltd (CIDCO), the Maharashtra state planning authority responsible for land acquisition and early infrastructure under a design-build-finance-operate-transfer (DBFOT) model.
The Adani Group, which operates eight airports across India, took over the Navi Mumbai site in 2021. Predevelopment activities for Phase 2 include land works, site utilities, geotechnical surveys, and regulatory clearances.
A subsidiary of Adani Group, NMIAL, is leading planning, site preparation, regulatory approvals, and agency coordination for the new airport, according to an Adani Airports Holdings Ltd (AAHL) spokesperson. Phase 1 of NMIAL is currently 94% complete and includes Terminal 1 with an annual capacity of 20 million passengers, a runway, an air traffic control tower, cargo facilities, support systems, and integrated road connectivity.
NMIA Phase 1 design was led by London-based Zaha Hadid Architects, with lotus-inspired columns and petal-shaped canopies defining the terminal. L&T secured the engineering-procurement-construction (EPC) contract, covering terminals, runway, and infrastructure, while its subsidiary delivered detailed Phase 1 engineering. Ashoka Buildcon handled early earthwork, and Jacobs Engineering’s final masterplan included terminal sizing models. AECOM was the independent engineer, overseeing planning, construction methodology, and safety. The completed South Runway spans 3,700 meters by 60 meters; the North Runway will follow in later phases.
Terminal 1 of the new Navi Mumbai International Airport is slated to begin operations this year.
Photo courtesy L&T
Phase 2 of NMIAL will introduce Terminal 2, boosting capacity to 25 million passengers, alongside a second runway, modular utility upgrades, and advanced digital and security infrastructure. L&T is expected to retain its role as EPC and infrastructure contractor, with the terminal design to be selected via a design competition. Completion is targeted for 2030.
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The planned opening is a key milestone for the Indian government's aviation infrastructure building blitz.
Phase 2 of NMIAL has triggered over 200 high-value tenders spanning airside expansion, terminal fit-outs, and advanced security infrastructure, with Larsen & Toubro anchoring core packages. The phase prioritizes tech-enabled enhancements—facial recognition, RFID baggage tracking, body scanners, AI-based resource planning, and predictive maintenance. Sustainability measures include solar panels and rainwater harvesting systems.
The NMIAL site posed extraordinary engineering challenges due to its natural topography. According to an Adani spokesperson, the land featured diverse terrain including Ulwe Hill, which once stood at 96 m where the runway now lies. Engineers executed large-scale terrain and hydrological modifications, lowering the hill to 10 m via controlled blasting, with excavated material repurposed for land leveling. Concurrently, the Ulwe River was diverted 90° into a 3.2 km flood-safe channel, supported by embankments and drainage systems. The interventions created a stable airport foundation but triggered environmental concerns around mangrove loss and heightened flood risks in adjacent areas. CIDCO has rehabilitated nine affected villages as part of the mitigation strategy.
Connectivity challenges persist. South Mumbai is linked to NMIAL via the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL). However, North Mumbai access hinges on upcoming projects, notably the $1.8- billion Metro Line 8, an airport express corridor spanning 35 km (25.8 km elevated, 9.25 km underground), which will connect Adani-operated Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to NMIAL. Jointly developed by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and CIDCO, the project is tentatively targeted for completion by 2029.
Recently renamed D B Patil Navi Mumbai International Airport to honor the activist who championed the rights of displaced farmers, the facility is driving adjacent development, including a planned "aerocity" and 375-acre corporate park with residential, hospitality, and business hubs. CIDCO is also leading the $2.4 billion Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area (NAINA) smart city initiative to align regional urbanization with airport-oriented growth. As part of this expansion, tenders worth $400 million have been issued for master planning, public-private partnership advisory, mobility upgrades, tunnel waterproofing, utility networks, and smart city systems. Additional tenders cover plots for hotels, convention centers, and mixed-use spaces.
