Decades in the Making: Mumbai Unveils $2.5bn Navi Airport Built on Flattened Hills and Diverted Rivers

Mumbai has finally opened its long-awaited second airport a colossal project that took nearly two decades, reshaped the land itself, and promises to redefine air travel in India’s financial capital.

The new Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI), inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 8, 2025, was built on a site that once featured hills, rivers, and creeks — all re-engineered to make way for what officials call India’s most ambitious aviation project.

The lotus-inspired mega-terminal is designed to handle 20 million passengers annually in its first phase, immediately relieving pressure on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM), which already processes over 54 million travelers a year — well beyond its intended capacity.

“It’s a great airport. It’s a terrific location,” said aviation analyst Mark D. Martin. “But the area is not yet developed. The viability and sustainability of an airport in India purely depend on its access to the population.”

When fully completed by 2032, NMI will boast four terminals and handle up to 90 million passengers annually, placing Mumbai in the same league as global multi-airport cities such as London, New York, and Dubai.

Prime Minister Modi celebrated the launch as a symbol of India’s rapid aviation expansion.

“In 2014, we only had 74 airports. Today, we have more than 160,” he said. “With this new airport, Maharashtra’s farmers can connect with supermarkets in Europe and the Middle East, and our fishermen’s produce can reach global markets faster.”

According to airport officials, passengers can expect biometric check-ins, shorter queues, and smoother connections as airlines ramp up operations.

Air India Express will start with 20 daily departures, including international routes, while IndiGo plans to shift dozens of flights to the new hub and expand global routes by November. Homegrown carrier Akasa Air is also joining in with over 100 weekly flights.

The airport’s cargo capacity — 800,000 tons annually — cements Mumbai’s role as a pharmaceutical and e-commerce hub. It also features India’s largest general aviation terminal, capable of hosting up to 75 business jets.

Aviation experts say the opening of NMI marks a turning point for India’s growing aviation industry — and a long-awaited breather for one of the world’s busiest air corridors.