Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport T1 to be demolished after Navi Mumbai's T2 is ready

Navi Mumbai airport

Terminal 1 (T1) of Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport will be demolished in 2029, a significant move in the city’s aviation overhaul that is contingent upon the new Navi Mumbai International Airport becoming fully operational, News18 reported.

The demolition is scheduled for 2029, but will only proceed after the second terminal (T2) at the Navi Mumbai airport is completed and ready for service. This phased approach is designed to ensure no disruption to the existing air traffic capacity serving the Mumbai metropolitan region.

The timeline for this major infrastructure shift is now in motion, with the new Navi Mumbai International Airport set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. According to reports, commercial flight operations from the new facility are expected to commence by mid-December.

In a post on X on Wednesday, Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani shared insights ahead of the inauguration, stating, “Ahead of the inauguration of Navi Mumbai International Airport on 8 Oct, I met with our differently-abled colleagues, construction workers, women staff, engineers, artisans, fire fighters and the guards who helped bring this vision to life."

He confirmed that major carriers Air India, IndiGo and Akasa will begin services from the airport from its first day of operations.

The development of the Navi Mumbai airport, a project characterised by its lotus-themed design, is being undertaken by Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd (NMIAL). The joint venture is majority-controlled by the Adani Group, which holds a 74% stake, with the state-owned CIDCO owning the remaining 26%.

Upon reaching full capacity in its final phase, the new airport is projected to handle a substantial 90 million passengers and 360 crore metric tonnes of cargo annually, significantly decongesting air traffic in the region.

In a related development, the Maharashtra government has approved the establishment of a dedicated police station for the Navi Mumbai International Airport area, underscoring the focus on security for the new aviation hub.