‘Profit mafia’ row erupts at new Navi Mumbai airport as Shiv Sena MP slams telecom ‘monopoly’

Priyanka Chaturvedi

• Priyanka Chaturvedi criticizes Adani Group's Navi Mumbai airport telecom handling
• COAI alleges NMIAL forces telecoms to use costly airport-owned network
• NMIAL denies refusal, cites security, accuses telecom firms of cartelisation.

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Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has launched a scathing attack on the Adani Group, labelling its management of the new Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) as a "profit mafia" business.

The accusation follows a major commercial dispute between the airport operator and the country’s leading telecom providers, which has left early passengers grappling with poor mobile connectivity, reported Mathrubhumi English.

The controversy centres on allegations that Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd (NMIAL) is denying telecom firms the statutory Right of Way (RoW) to install their own 4G and 5G infrastructure. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Chaturvedi directly linked the passenger experience to the standoff.

"The airport operator has denied the telecom operators the statutory RoW permissions and instead imposing an in-built telecom network at prohibitive rates," Chaturvedi stated. "Here comes the business of profit mafia. My way or the highway for public infrastructure?"

She further questioned the role of oversight bodies, asking whether government agencies should have ensured the operator prioritised passenger convenience.

The MP’s criticism amplifies a formal complaint by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), which represents Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea. The association has sought urgent intervention from the Department of Telecommunications, alleging NMIAL is forcing operators to use an airport-owned "neutral host" network at "exorbitant and commercially untenable" charges — reportedly around Rs 9.2 million per month from each.

The COAI argues this creates an "impermissible monopolistic arrangement" and violates the Telecommunications Act 2023.

In a robust rebuttal, NMIAL, which commenced operations on December 25, denied ever refusing access. It accused the telecom companies of "cartelisation" on pricing and defended its in-house system as a security necessity. The operator stated it ensures coverage in critical but less populated zones like baggage belts and air traffic control, which private providers might neglect.

"We welcome individual TSPs [Telecom Service Providers] to discuss and mutually agree on rates. However, we will not give in to any cartelisation in this regard," an NMIAL statement said. It noted that state-owned BSNL is already testing the airport’s network successfully.