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Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis recently announced that construction of India's first offshore airport, the Vadhvan Airport near Mumbai, is expected to begin in 2026. The state has already appointed an agency to prepare the detailed project report. This would be the third airport in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region after the existing Mumbai airport and the upcoming Navi Mumbai airport. Fadnavis also shared progress on the Purandar airport near Pune and plans to expand aviation infrastructure across the state's districts.
Construction of India's first offshore airport, the Vadhvan Airport, is set to begin in 2026, according to Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis. The airport is planned near the Vadhvan port in Palghar district and will become the third air hub in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Fadnavis made the remarks while speaking at the Western Region Ministers' Conference of Civil Aviation in Mumbai. Advertisement
He stated that the Maharashtra government had already commissioned an agency to prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the airport. Emphasising the feasibility of the project, Fadnavis questioned why an offshore airport could not be developed when an offshore port had already been successfully planned in the same region. This was in reference to the INR 76,000 crore Vadhvan greenfield port project.
Currently, MMR has only one operational airport at Santacruz, while the second airport at Navi Mumbai, being developed by the Adani Group, is expected to be inaugurated soon. Once Vadhvan airport is realised, it would significantly ease pressure on the existing aviation infrastructure and serve the growing passenger demand in the region.
In addition to the developments in MMR, Fadnavis also discussed progress on the second airport proposed for Pune, located in Purandar. He mentioned that land acquisition for this project is targeted for completion within the next 4-5 months.
The Chief Minister highlighted the state's broader vision for enhancing air connectivity, stating that 24 of Maharashtra's 36 districts already have either an airport or an airstrip. The government aims to increase this number to 30 and is currently working to upgrade existing airstrips to improve regional connectivity.
Fadnavis noted that airport development plays a crucial role in attracting investments and stimulating the economic development of the surrounding areas.
With Navi Mumbai airport nearing completion and land acquisition for Purandar airport underway, the state is making substantial progress in developing a multi-airport system. The government's commitment to upgrading airstrips across districts further underlines its broader agenda of regional growth through improved connectivity.
Source - PTI
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