Navi Mumbai: The most anticipated Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) is slated to launch in September, having received approval for 285 immigration staff from the Maharashtra home department. This includes a diverse team comprising 20 inspectors, 55 sub-inspectors, and various constables, forming a crucial administrative step before operations begin.
Designed to alleviate congestion at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), NMIA will boast four terminals, two runways, and a cargo terminal, aiming to accommodate 90 million passengers and 360 metric tonnes of cargo per year. The state has allocated ₹10.10 crore annually for immigration staffing and infrastructure.
The home department is also planning a police station at the airport with approximately 300 personnel to maintain law and order. The Navi Mumbai Police has been restructured to include a new Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) position for Panvel, while airport operations will fall under DCP Zone II. Currently, crimes at the existing international airport are managed by the Sahar police and the Airport Police Station, with a similar setup expected at NMIA.
The airport is anticipated to become a significant transit hub for Mumbai and surrounding areas, leading to proposed traffic divisions managed by 250 officers. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has coordinated plans for security at NMIA, with 2,000 personnel slated for deployment.
Recent Visuals Of The Navi Mumbai Airport
Presently, 95% of the airport's construction is complete, with initial operations expected to commence with limited capacity by late September, following minor delays. The second phase is anticipated shortly thereafter. Additionally, the Maharashtra government boasts a high realization rate of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed with companies, signaling investment growth.
Terminal 1 at CSMIA is set for demolition, likely rerouting many domestic flights to NMIA, which is expected to handle 30 flights daily initially, scaling up significantly soon after. The airport’s facilities are described as state-of-the-art, with design elements aimed at creating a modern transportation hub for the region.
