September 9, 2025: The Maharashtra Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has approved the construction of an elevated corridor linking Thane to the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), at an estimated cost of Rs 6.36 billion. The City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) will undertake the project on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis, with the state describing it as a landmark urban infrastructure initiative.
To support the project and generate additional revenue, the state will acquire land parcels along the alignment for commercial development. Government-owned land beneath the elevated stretch will also be transferred to CIDCO at a nominal rate.
The approval comes at a crucial juncture, as NMIA is scheduled for inauguration by the end of September 2025, with flight operations expected to commence around 45 days later. The elevated road is considered vital for providing seamless access to the airport, which is set to become a transformative multi-modal aviation hub for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
Developed with an investment of nearly Rs 20 billion, NMIA will feature a single integrated terminal catering to both domestic and international passengers. The first phase includes one runway, 42 aircraft stands (29 contact and 13 remote), and capacity for 20 million passengers annually. The airport will also boast one of the fastest baggage-handling systems globally, with 360-degree barcode scanning and rapid claim facilities, alongside provisions for future city check-in and luggage-free transfers.
During a recent site inspection, CM Fadnavis remarked that the current workforce of 14,000 may be doubled to meet the Prime Minister’s deadline for inauguration. Deputy CM Eknath Shinde hailed the airport as a “game-changer” for Maharashtra’s economy, adding that improved links such as the upgraded Mumbai–Pune Expressway will cut travel time from Pune to under an hour.
Source: Construction World
