To meet the 2024 deadline, Adani group-led Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd (NMIAL) has commenced work on its Terminal 1 and the runway.

Recently, the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) evicted all structures in the project area and handed over the cleared land to the airport's concessionaire.

The Navi Mumbai International Airport is coming up on 1,160 hectares of land. While the river diversion work is complete, the hill cutting work will take a couple of months as the last hill at Kombadbhuje is yet to be cut.

"Work on Terminal 1 and the runway started last week after the entire airport land was cleared of human habitation. There were 224 structures in existence when we took over the job in 2020, and now they have been cleared. Work is in full swing," Adani group spokesperson told The Economic Times.

"Cidco's job is done. A bit of hill cutting remains, which is just 1 per cent of Cidco's scope of work. The concessionaire has started its work. It was given in writing with plans for COD set for December 31, 2024. This has been reviewed and presented in the 'Pragati' meeting as well. We are hopeful that the concessionaire will meet the deadline," Sanjay Mukherjee, Cidco vice-chairman and managing director said.

In March this year, Navi Mumbai International Airport Private Ltd (NMIAL), a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Ltd (AEL), has achieved financial closure for the greenfield international airport project at Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, with the execution of the financing documents with the State Bank of India (SBI).

The SBI has underwritten the entire debt requirement of Rs 12,770 crore for the NMIA project.

The NMIA project was taken over after the acquisition of Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) by the Adani Group through Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL) in July 2021.