PM Modi to Inaugurate India’s First Fully Digital Airport in Navi Mumbai Tomorrow

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) at 2:40 p.m. tomorrow, marking a major milestone in India’s aviation infrastructure.

Touted as the country’s first fully digital airport, NMIA is expected to begin commercial operations by December 2025, following comprehensive security clearances and system evaluations.

Captain B.V.J.K. Sharma, Project CEO of NMIA, highlighted the airport’s robust design and climate resilience. “The airport has been elevated by 8.5 metres and tested to ensure it never floods, even under extreme cloudburst scenarios,” Sharma said, underscoring the project’s commitment to passenger safety and comfort through advanced amenities.

The airport will feature a range of passenger-friendly systems, including DigiYatra-enabled gates, self-baggage drop points, and a trusted travel programme designed to expedite check-in and immigration processes. A virtual queuing system with real-time display monitors will allow travellers to proceed directly to security when their turn arrives.

A unique food hall concept will enable passengers to pre-order from multiple outlets and receive consolidated deliveries at boarding gates.

During Phase I operations, the airport will function from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., handling around 8–10 aircraft movements per hour, with plans to extend operations based on demand.

Security arrangements will involve the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) deploying personnel and equipment over the next 45–60 days, followed by inspections by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) to ensure compliance with national safety standards.

Several airlines, including IndiGo, Akasa Air, and Air India Express, have confirmed operations from the outset. IndiGo plans 18 daily flights to over 15 cities initially, scaling up to 79 flights by March 2026, including 14 international routes.

The terminal will include 88 check-in counters (66 staffed and 22 self-service), four entry gates, and three operational centres. It is equipped with a Category II Instrument Landing System (ILS), enabling safe landings even when runway visibility drops to 300 metres, and a 600-metre displaced runway threshold for improved glide path safety.

Environmental sustainability features include a 47 MW solar power plant, electric vehicles, rainwater harvesting, wastewater recycling, and automated people movers connecting the four terminals.

Connectivity infrastructure includes the nearly completed Targhar railway station, spread across 2 lakh square feet with three island platforms and two end platforms, each 270 metres long, offering parking for 720 vehicles.

Shuttle services from Belapur, Seawoods, and Nerul are expected shortly, while a water taxi service will connect the Gateway of India (Radio Jetty) to the airport in approximately 40 minutes. The facility will be officially named “Loknete D.B. Patil Navi Mumbai International Airport” once central government approval is received.

Phase I construction has cost Rs 19,650 crore, with the Adani Group committing an additional Rs 30,000 crore for future expansion. The project is expected to create over two lakh direct and indirect jobs, providing a major boost to the regional economy.

To manage traffic on inauguration day, the Navi Mumbai Police have banned the movement of heavy vehicles from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., with exemptions for essential services.