The upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) in Panvel is on track to become India’s pioneering airport with comprehensive multimodal connectivity upon its full operationalisation. Set to inaugurate its initial phases in June, with commercial flights expected in the latter half of the year, NMIA is strategically designed to offer seamless integration with an array of transport options, setting a new benchmark for airport accessibility in the country.
Currently accessible only by road, the airport’s connectivity is set to be revolutionised. The recently inaugurated Mumbai Trans Harbour Sea Link (MTHL), also known as Atal Setu, has already significantly reduced travel time for South Mumbai residents, offering access to the airport vicinity within an hour via the Ulwe and Panvel exits.
Further bolstering road connectivity is the under-construction six-lane Ulwe Coastal Road. This Rs 1590 crore project, slated for completion by 2026, will provide a direct and signal-free route from Amra Marg to the Atal Setu junction and directly into the airport. An elevated section of this road will fly over existing railway lines and a major highway, ensuring smooth traffic flow. Additionally, the crucial Kalamboli interchange, a confluence of five major highways serving as a key gateway to the airport, is undergoing a significant upgrade. This Rs 500 crore project includes flyovers and underpasses to streamline traffic movement from all directions towards the NMIA and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT).
Rail connectivity is also a key focus. The existing Panvel railway station is being developed into a major terminus for outstation trains, enhancing its current links to the Konkan region and Gujarat. The Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) is making significant progress on the new Panvel-Karjat suburban railway corridor, with 70% of the work completed and an expected operational date of December. Furthermore, the Belapur/Nerul-Kharkopar-Uran suburban line’s ‘fourth corridor’ will directly serve the airport, with Targhar station emerging as a primary link for commuters from Mumbai’s central and harbour line suburbs. Future rail plans include elevated sky trains or monorails within the airport precinct and a potential CST-Panvel elevated rail link.
Metro connectivity is envisioned as a game-changer. CIDCO is developing the Navi Mumbai Airport Express Line Metro, directly linking NMIA to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) via a 34-kilometre route. Several other metro lines, including extensions of the existing Navi Mumbai Metro and Mumbai Metro Line 8, are planned to converge at the airport, ensuring widespread connectivity across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The ambitious airport-to-airport Metro Line 8 is projected to handle substantial passenger traffic by 2061.
Looking towards the future, the state government is also exploring innovative water transport solutions, including hovercraft services from Colaba and cargo ferries from Raigad, potentially slashing travel times significantly. Moreover, NMIA is slated to be a key station on the proposed Mumbai-Hyderabad High-Speed Rail corridor, integrating it into the national bullet train network.
With its strategic location and meticulously planned integration of roadways, railways, metro lines, and potential future modes like water transport and high-speed rail, Navi Mumbai International Airport is poised to redefine airport connectivity standards in India, catering to a vast catchment area and driving economic growth in the region.
Sources: Fortune India
