DGCA and AAI Chairman Inspect Navi Mumbai International Airport’s Readiness Ahead of Launch | File Photo
Navi Mumbai: In Another Milestone for Navi Mumbai Airport, DGCA and AAI Chairman Review Readiness of Navi Mumbai International Airport. The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Faiz Ahmed Kidwai (IAS), along with Airport Authority of India (AAI) Chairman Vipin Kumar (IAS), visited the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) site on Tuesday to assess the airport’s readiness ahead of its operational launch.
This high-profile review follows successful trial landings of an Indian Air Force (IAF) transport aircraft on October 11, 2024, and a commercial aircraft operated by IndiGo on December 29, 2024.
The inspection was attended by Prakash Nikam, Regional Director, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS); Vijay Singhal, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, CIDCO; Shantanu Goel, Joint Managing Director, CIDCO; and Geetha Pillai, Chief General Manager (Transport and Airport), along with NMIA officials. The DGCA, along with senior officials, conducted a crucial meeting to evaluate the airport’s operational preparedness. This review was the culmination of a full-day inspection by AAI and DGCA teams.
As India’s primary aviation regulatory body, the DGCA carried out a detailed inspection of critical airport infrastructure, including the runway, apron, taxiways, ATC tower, terminal building, and baggage handling systems.
“The airport operator showcased operational readiness by conducting a mock check-in process, issuing dummy boarding passes and baggage tags, which was well received by the inspection team,” said a statement released by CIDCO on Wednesday.
Developed by CIDCO across 1,160 hectares, NMIA is designed to handle 20 million passengers per annum (MPPA) initially, with an ultimate capacity of 90 MPPA and 2.6 million tons of cargo annually. The airport aims to ease congestion at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) and enhance air connectivity in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
To facilitate seamless connectivity, CIDCO has planned robust transport links to NMIA, including roads, suburban rail, metro, and water transport, along with the proposed Mumbai–Hyderabad High-Speed Rail Corridor.
“With the DGCA’s successful review and trial landings already completed, NMIA is inching closer to its operational debut, marking a significant step forward in Mumbai’s aviation infrastructure development,” a CIDCO official said.
