Navi Mumbai: The City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) conducted a crucial review of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) last week, reaffirming its commitment to the timely launch of the high-profile project.
Shri Vijay Singhal, IAS, Vice Chairman & Managing Director of CIDCO, chaired the high-level meeting on Thursday, April 17, directing officials from CIDCO, Adani Group, and L&T to identify and resolve any potential bottlenecks ahead of the airport’s proposed inauguration and the commencement of commercial operations.
With the Airport Information Publication (AIP) already issued and inspections by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in progress for aerodrome licensing, the review focused on the readiness of the airside, landside, and terminal components of the project.
The concessionaire, Navi Mumbai International Airport Limited (NMIAL), confirmed that airside works are 100% complete. Processes for obtaining the Aerodrome License from DGCA and security clearance from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) are progressing smoothly. NMIAL also reported that Operation Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) testing is being conducted regularly to ensure seamless functionality during operations.
The meeting also addressed airline slot allocations. Several airlines have applied for operating slots at NMIA, and the DGCA committee is expected to finalize the allocations in the coming weeks.
Connectivity to the airport was another key point of discussion. Shri Singhal reviewed the progress of landside access infrastructure being developed jointly by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and CIDCO. He emphasized that all access routes must be completed well in advance of the airport’s inauguration.
To maintain oversight and momentum, Shri Singhal has instituted regular fortnightly review meetings, highlighting the strategic importance of NMIA to both Maharashtra and the nation.
The Navi Mumbai International Airport, once fully operational, is expected to handle 90 million passengers and 3.2 million tonnes of cargo annually. Phase 1 of the project will commence with a capacity of 20 million passengers and 0.8 million tonnes of cargo per year. Key infrastructure in this phase includes a Code-F runway with dual parallel taxiways, a single terminal (T1), cargo facilities, and other essential support systems.
Key attendees at the review meeting included CIDCO Joint Managing Director Shri Shantanu Goel, Chief General Manager (Transport & Airport) Smt. Geetha Pillai, Shri Jeet Adani, Director – Airports, Adani Group; Shri Malay Mahadevia, Director, Adani Group; Shri BVJK Sharma, CEO, NMIAL; and Shri N. Namachivayam, VP & Head of Operations, L&T.
