The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), one of India’s most important infrastructure projects, is led by Geetha Ajit Pillai, 56, a resident of CBD Belapur. Pillai has been instrumental in developing Navi Mumbai’s urban landscape in his capacity as the City and Industrial Development Corporation’s (CIDCO) chief general manager (transport and airport).
Originally from Changanassery, Kottayam, Kerala, Pillai was recently honored by The Minerva Community for her leadership in transport and airport infrastructure. In 2021, she became the first woman in CIDCO to hold the position of chief general manager for transport and airport. Under her leadership, her team won the Outstanding Performance Award in 2022 for the Mumbai-JNPT Port Road Connectivity Project.
Being the sole female student in her MTech (Transport Planning) class at the School of Planning and Architecture in Delhi in 1991 marked the beginning of Pillai’s career in transportation engineering. Since joining CIDCO in 1995 as an assistant transportation engineer, she has worked on a number of important projects, including as the Ulwe and Kharghar coastal highways, Palm Beach Road, flyovers, Metro Rail and the suburban rail network. She has been associated with NMIA since its founding in 1999.
“For me, NMIA is like my own baby. It has grown alongside my son, from an idea to reality,” she said. Though she is set to retire in two years, she remains invested in the airport’s long-term development. “NMIA’s expansion is planned until 2040. When Terminal 4 connects with Metro Line 2, it will be a dream fulfilled.”
Pillai, an architectural engineering BTech graduate from NIT Calicut, declined an offer from IIT Kharagpur to pursue a degree in transport planning in Delhi. She comes from an intellectually successful family—her mother was the chair of the mathematics department at NSS Hindu College, and her father was a divisional manager at New India Assurance—and has always valued tenacity and commitment.
On Women’s Day, Pillai emphasized the importance of seeking support for work-life balance. “Women shouldn’t be expected to handle everything alone. Having family or domestic help makes professional growth easier. I owe my career success to my supportive husband and children.” She recalled how her grandmother arranged a house help from Kerala when her first child was born, ensuring a balance between motherhood and career. Today, her daughter is a doctor in the UK, and her son is pursuing a master’s in the USA. Her husband, a cybersecurity professional, leads the Asia-Pacific division of a US-based firm.
Pillai attributes her focus and energy to regular pranayama and praises CIDCO for fostering a positive work environment. Reflecting on motherhood and career, she shared a touching memory: “There was a time when my son wouldn’t do his homework unless I was present. My driver used to bring him to my office, where he would sit beside me, complete his assignments, and then head home.”
Pillai continues to have a significant influence on India’s infrastructure scene after an exciting career that lasted almost thirty years.
Source: The Free Press Journal
