September 2, 2025: Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) is preparing for a significant transformation, with plans to demolish and rebuild Terminal 1. The overhaul, however, will only commence once the second terminal of the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) becomes operational.
Terminal 1 currently handles more than 10 million domestic passengers each year. To avoid congestion, it will remain partially functional until NMIA expands capacity. Officials from Adani Airport Holdings Ltd, which operates CSMIA, confirmed that parts of the terminal have already been scaled down owing to structural and safety concerns. “Complete demolition will only begin after Navi Mumbai’s Terminal 2 is active,” said Arun Bansal, the company’s Chief Executive Officer.
The NMIA is being developed in phases. The first phase, now under construction, will accommodate up to 20 million passengers annually. Phase 2 is expected to increase this capacity to 50 million. The full closure and redevelopment of CSMIA’s Terminal 1 is tied to the completion of this second phase.
Authorities have indicated that the terminal will be reconstructed on its current footprint. The redevelopment will require extensive construction activity, regulatory clearances, and the installation of advanced systems, a process likely to take several years after demolition begins.
The synchronised timeline between NMIA’s expansion and CSMIA’s redevelopment highlights a deliberate strategy to sustain passenger capacity while minimising disruption in one of the busiest aviation corridors in India. For Mumbai, the initiative represents not only an infrastructure upgrade but also a balancing act between growing air traffic demands and the need for modern, secure, and efficient facilities.
Source: Construction World
