September 6, 2025: The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), slated to commence commercial operations later this year, is implementing a comprehensive wildlife hazard management plan to ensure aviation safety. The approach blends technology, habitat modification, and community participation to mitigate risks posed by the airport’s unique ecological setting.
Developed by Navi Mumbai Airport Limited (NMIAL), a joint venture between Adani Airports Holdings Limited and CIDCO, the 1,160-hectare greenfield project lies amid wetlands, mangroves, forests, and dense urban areas. This proximity to natural habitats has necessitated innovative deterrent systems, making NMIA a benchmark in urban aviation safety.
In 2018, NMIAL engaged the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) for a 10-year bird survey within a 10-km radius of the site. The study recorded 231 bird species, though the count at the airport itself has fallen from 80 to 26 by 2024. Habitat modification, including invasive vegetation clearance and diversion of the Ulwe River, was carried out to minimize bird congregation.
Birdgard India, an accredited wildlife hazard management expert, was appointed during the pre-licensing phase to assess risks within a 13-km radius. Measures include drain netting, a Perimeter Intrusion Detection System (PIDS), and geo-tagging of congregation zones for targeted intervention.
“We have engineered the airport environment to be inherently unattractive to wildlife,” said an NMIAL official. A grid-based patrol system, staffed by trained teams with pyrotechnics and bird-scaring tools, manages bird activity and stray animal relocation in collaboration with civic and forest authorities.
GPS-enabled software provides real-time tracking of wildlife, while night surveys ensure 24×7 monitoring. Additionally, the Aerodrome Environment Management Committee (AEMC), formed in February, coordinates efforts across authorities, NGOs, and local gram panchayats through inspections, awareness campaigns, and outreach.
However, concerns remain. “The airport site was once a thriving wetland surrounded by mangroves, mudflats, and forests,” said Debi Goenka, Executive Trustee of Conservation Action Trust, highlighting its location between ecologically sensitive bird corridors.
Source: Construction World
