Is India set to get its first airport constructed on a man-made island close to Mumbai?

This yr, Mumbai, India’s monetary capital, is all prepared for a brand new aviation increase. In April, the much-awaited Navi Mumbai Worldwide Airport is ready to be inaugurated. However that’s not all.

Now, reviews state that ‘Most Metropolis’ will even be house to India’s first offshore airport. Plans have been drawn up for a brand new airport to be constructed on a man-made island close to the Vadhvan seaport — roughly 120 km away from the prevailing airport within the coronary heart of town.

A Bloomberg report citing individuals within the know mentioned that this new facility might be just like
China’s Dalian Jinzhou Bay Worldwide Airport and Japan’s Kansai Worldwide Airport that are additionally constructed on man-made islands.

Synthetic island to accommodate Mumbai’s third airport

As per a Bloomberg report, the brand new airport might be constructed on a man-made island close to the Vadhvan seaport in Palghar, which is on the outskirts of Mumbai. The information comes after the mission received preliminary approvals from setting and defence departments in addition to the Maharashtra authorities.

For many who don’t know, the
Vadhvan seaport is a Rs 76,000 crore mission, which when completed, might be one of many world’s prime 10 ports. PM Modi had laid the muse stone for this in August final yr. It’s slated to be developed in two phases – the primary ending in 2030 and the second ending in 2039.

The concept of an airport close to the Vadhvan seaport was proposed by Devendra Fadnavis final yr. Then the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, he mentioned, “Mumbai will want a 3rd airport within the coming years and at a number of locations on the planet airports are constructed on reclaimed land. My suggestion is for the Centre to think about this proposal on reclaimed land close to Vadhvan port.”

Presently, Mumbai has two airports — one working within the suburban space of Santacruz, and the opposite anticipated to be operational in April in
Navi Mumbai.

Curiously, the plan for a 3rd airport has been on the playing cards for a while. The earlier Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had additionally mooted the thought of a 3rd airport. The state administration on the time was contemplating a proposal for a home airport at Kelva-Mahim or Dapchari, each in Palghar district.

Furthermore, in 2013, engineering providers main Netherlands Airport Consultants had proposed an analogous thought of constructing a man-made island off Mumbai, which might home an airport. Netherlands Airport Consultants regional supervisor Joeri Aulman had proposed to create an island by reclaiming land positioned north of Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT).

Specialists say an airport on a man-made island will take greater than a decade to finish. Nevertheless when accomplished, it is not going to solely increase connectivity but additionally keep away from land acquisition associated delays.

Want for a 3rd airport in Mumbai

With this airport, the nation’s monetary capital may have three airports. Whereas the Chhatrapati Shivaji Worldwide Airport in Mumbai is totally operational, the Navi Mumbai Airport will take off in April.

Nevertheless, officers observe that
Mumbai is in want of one other airport owing to excessive footfalls. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Worldwide Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai is the second busiest airport within the nation after the Indira Gandhi Worldwide Airport in New Delhi.

Information reveals that in October 2024, Mumbai airport noticed 31.6 lakh home passengers. Furthermore, it could deal with 900 flights a day. Specialists observe that the Mumbai airport has already reached its saturation level, resulting in delays. Even Air India cited this situation to be the rationale for flight delays. Final September, it issued an announcement studying, “Flights departing and arriving at Mumbai have been impacted by runway capability. In Feb-March, 58 per cent of all delays in Mumbai had been attributable to these points. With Mumbai being our second largest hub, with a number of worldwide and home connections, the cascading delays to our operations are a lot higher in comparison with different home carriers.”

Nevertheless, officers are fast to notice that the airport close to Vadhvan seaport isn’t with out its challenges. Firstly, town should guarantee speedy journey choices between the brand new mission and the prevailing terminal inside the metropolis limits. Additionally, the federal government should justify the funding for such a large mission.

Challenge just like China

The proposed airport close to Vadhvan seaport is just like the one which China is developing within the northeast — the Dalian Jinzhou Bay Worldwide Airport. As soon as constructed, it will likely be the world’s largest airport on a man-made island — spanning a 20 sq km island with 4 runways and a 9,00,000 sq. metre passenger terminal.

Officers say that the airport might be accomplished by 2035 and as soon as achieved, the airport will deal with 80 million passengers yearly throughout 5,40,000 flights.

This isn’t the one airport on a man-made island; the Hong Kong Worldwide Airport is and Japan’s Kansai Airport are each constructed on man-made islands respectively. Whereas Hong Kong’s airport spans throughout 12.48 sq. km, Japan’s Kansai Worldwide Airport measures 10.5 sq km.

With inputs from companies