July 10, 2025: The long-anticipated Navi Mumbai International Airport is poised to commence operations this September, with Phase 1 of construction reportedly 95 percent complete. Though the airport was originally slated for an August opening, officials have confirmed a minor delay, stating that limited-capacity operations will begin in September, with full-scale services to follow in phases.
Touted as a transformative development for Maharashtra, the new airport is expected to significantly ease congestion at the existing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and emerge as a crucial aviation hub for the region. The update was shared during an investment-focused session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, where the government reiterated its infrastructure-driven approach to economic growth.
Officials highlighted that Maharashtra leads the country in MoU-to-execution conversion, with 87% of agreements signed with companies resulting in on-ground projects. Over the past three years, the state has signed MoUs worth Rs 1.80 lakh crore, Rs 7 lakh crore, and Rs 15.72 lakh crore, respectively. Of the 46 participating firms, 15 have already received land allocations, with seven more in progress. Four new industrial units are set to commence production shortly, bolstering job creation and industrial output.
Beyond the metropolitan focus, the government is promoting regional industrialisation. Gadchiroli, for instance, is being developed as a steel manufacturing hub with planned investments of Rs 1 lakh crore. Furthermore, under the Chief Minister’s Employment Guarantee Scheme, over 62,000 micro and small enterprises have been established—reportedly six times more than during the previous administration.
Maharashtra has also emerged as a frontrunner in implementing the Central government’s Vishwakarma Yojana, aimed at supporting skilled artisans and tradespeople. On the civic front, officials clarified that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s rising liabilities—now at Rs 2.32 lakh crore—are not a result of financial mismanagement.
The upcoming operationalisation of Navi Mumbai Airport reflects Maharashtra’s broader ambitions for inclusive, connected, and sustainable urban development.
Source: Urban Acres
