News Brief
Fadnavis’s Infrastructure Blueprint: Linking Mumbai’s Future Through Navi Mumbai Internation Airport, Metro And Coastal Connectivity
Devendra Fadnavis
Devendra Fadnavis has played a central role as the Maharashtra Chief Minister and a top government coordinator in the major infrastructure blitz rolling out across Mumbai today.
He is directly credited with driving the planning, approval, and rapid execution of major projects, emphasising both urban transit modernisation and broader urban transformation, while also publicly addressing both the benefits and the traffic disruptions caused by these works.
He has taken a lead in communicating the significance of Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) to citizens and the wider business community through public statements, social media posts, and on-ground participation in the laying of the foundation stone with the Prime Minister in 2018.
Fadnavis consistently articulated NMIA’s role in positioning Mumbai and Maharashtra as a global investment and logistics hub, while also pushing for enhanced multimodal connectivity linking NMIA to metro lines, road networks, and tunnels for seamless commuter access.
He has frequently described NMIA as a "historic moment" and a "gateway to Maharashtra’s development," emphasising its potential to boost economic growth, generate over 200,000 jobs, and enhance global connectivity for the region.
Fadnavis also highlighted the airport’s world-class, fully digital infrastructure and its architectural inspiration from the lotus flower, framing it as a global benchmark in airport design and passenger convenience.
The Navi Mumbai International Airport design incorporates modern passenger facilities aimed at ensuring efficient transit, whilst integrating with current and future transport networks, including metro systems, roadways and public transport infrastructure.
He led the state’s “connectivity plan,” orchestrating metro, suburban rail, waterway, and road projects to integrate with NMIA. This included initiating new elevated road corridors and expediting the Atal Setu-Coastal Road link for seamless airport access.
The airport is connected via the four-lane Aamra Marg road and National Highway 4B. CIDCO is constructing the six-lane Ulwe Coastal Road and Kharghar Coastal Road to improve connectivity, with completion expected by early 2026.
