Navi Mumbai Airport, Metro 3 inaugurations postponed to Oct 30 — Here’s why

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The much-anticipated inauguration of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) has been rescheduled to October 30, while the Mumbai Metro 3 project will now be inaugurated on October 8, The Times of India reported.

Both events were initially planned for September 30 and were expected to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The delay in the airport inauguration comes amid heavy rainfall across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and the Konkan coast.

Officials pointed out that loose soil and muck on the roads leading to the airport in Ulwe posed a challenge for smooth visitor access.

Consequently, the Prime Minister’s Office informed the state government about the need to postpone the visit. This development also affected the Metro 3 inauguration, which was originally planned to coincide with the airport launch.

The rescheduling has sparked discussions over the proposed naming of the Navi Mumbai airport after social activist D B Patil. Local communities, particularly the Agri-Koli group, have shown strong support for the move.

However, some BJP leaders have expressed concern over the delay in the naming process. According to a report by Free Press Journal, Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik has clarified that the airport will be named after the late D B Patil once the Centre grants formal approval. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had already given his consent for the naming.

Last week, CM Fadnavis had announced that PM Modi would inaugurate the final stretch of the underground Metro 3 corridor, running from Acharya Atre Chowk in Worli to Cuffe Parade. This underground corridor is a key addition to Mumbai’s expanding metro network.

The Navi Mumbai International Airport, meanwhile, is expected to significantly ease congestion at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, providing better connectivity and boosting regional development.