Navi Mumbai: City and Industrial Development Corporation’s (CIDCO) Vijay Singhal, vice chairman and managing director, conducted an extensive review of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) project. The meeting focused on ensuring that all major components of the airport are progressing in alignment with its proposed inauguration and commercial launch timelines.

Among those present were Shantanu Goel, joint managing director of CIDCO, and Geetha Pillai, chief general manager (transport & airport), who joined Singhal in assessing the current status of the project. Key representatives from the Adani Group also participated, including Jeet Adani, director – Airports, Malay Mahadevia, director, and BVJK Sharma, CEO of Navi Mumbai International Airport Limited (NMIAL). N. Namachivayam, vice president and head of operations at Larsen & Toubro (L&T), were also part of the meeting to provide updates from the construction and engineering side.

With the Airport Information Publication (AIP) now officially released and inspections underway by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the review meeting focused on the readiness of three core areas: the airside, landside, and terminal infrastructure. The objective was to pinpoint potential bottlenecks and devise measures to prevent any delay in meeting deadlines.

Officials from NMIAL, the project’s concessionaire, confirmed that airside construction is 100% complete. They also stated that the processes for obtaining the Aerodrome License from DGCA and securing clearance from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) are well underway, with no major concerns foreseen.

To ensure operational preparedness, ORAT (Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer) testing is being carried out consistently, aimed at verifying that the systems, staff, and infrastructure are fully equipped for real-time functioning. According to NMIAL, several airlines have already applied for flight slots at the new airport, and slot allocation is expected to be finalised by the DGCA shortly.

Connectivity to the airport was another important focus area during the review. Singhal reviewed progress on access infrastructure being jointly developed by CIDCO and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). He directed all concerned departments to ensure that the external approach routes are completed well ahead of the airport’s inauguration to facilitate hassle-free passenger movement.

To maintain strict oversight, Singhal has instituted regular fortnightly monitoring meetings, enabling close supervision of this nationally significant infrastructure project. These ongoing reviews highlight the critical importance of NMIA to Maharashtra’s growth and India’s expanding aviation sector.

The first phase of NMIA is poised to begin operations with a capacity to handle 20 million passengers and 0.8 million tonnes of cargo annually. Once fully developed, the airport will have the capability to process up to 90 million passengers and 3.2 million tonnes of cargo per year. The initial phase includes a Code F runway with double parallel taxiways, Terminal 1, cargo terminals, and a range of support infrastructure built to international standards.

Upon launch, NMIA is expected to significantly decongest Mumbai’s existing airport and serve as a transformative economic and connectivity hub for the region.