Maharashtra is moving closer to developing India’s first offshore airport, with the state government initiating a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed aviation hub near Kore Beach in Palghar district. The project is expected to play a transformative role in the region’s economic and infrastructure development.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has also directed officials to explore extending the proposed Uttan–Virar Sea Link to provide direct access to the airport site, strengthening connectivity with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
Unlike conventional airports built on land, offshore airports are constructed on reclaimed land or artificial islands in the sea. Countries such as Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea have successfully adopted this model to overcome land constraints while expanding aviation capacity.
Designed to handle around 90 million passengers annually, the proposed airport forms part of a larger infrastructure ecosystem that includes the Vadhavan Port and several road and rail connectivity projects. Together, these developments are expected to position Palghar as a major economic and logistics hub.
Commenting on the proposal, Shravan Nawany, Director of Nawany Group, said, “Developers who have worked this corridor for decades will tell you the infrastructure was always coming. The question was never whether. It was when, and at what scale.”
He noted that multiple government agencies have independently identified the same growth corridor, reinforcing its long-term potential. “When CIDCO, MMRDA, and the state government arrive at the same corridor without coordinating their announcements, it is not a strategy. It is evidence,” Nawany said.
The airport is expected to complement the upcoming Vadhavan Port, which is projected to generate nearly 10 lakh jobs across logistics, shipping and allied sectors, creating demand for housing, commercial developments and supporting infrastructure.
Referring to the investment cycle around major infrastructure projects, Nawany added, “That window opened in Palghar with this statement from the Hon’ble CM.”
Drawing parallels with Navi Mumbai International Airport, he observed, “The repricing happened long before the first flight landed,” suggesting that property markets often respond well before large infrastructure projects become operational.
Although the airport remains at the planning stage and awaits statutory approvals, the proposal signals Maharashtra’s intent to establish a major new aviation hub while unlocking fresh growth opportunities across northern MMR.
Source: NDTV
