Flying from Navi Mumbai International Airport Soon? Here's the fastest and cheapest way to get there

Navi Mumbai International Airport will commence its operations on December 25.

• Navi Mumbai Airport to open on Dec 25 with one runway and terminal
• No direct metro/rail; access via road, bus, suburban trains with last-mile transfers
• Metro Line 8 and Ulwe Coastal Road to improve connectivity by 2026-2029

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Mumbai is all geared up to open the gates of its second international airport, the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), on December 25.

Located at Ulwe in Panvel taluka, the airport sits outside Mumbai’s main suburban rail line, and will open without direct metro or express rail connectivity.

While initial flights will operate with one runway and one terminal, there are plans to scale up to 90 million passengers over time, easing capacity constraints at Mumbai’s existing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA).

How can passengers commute to the airport?

Until the planned infrastructure projects, around the airport, are completed, commute to the new airport will depend on a mix of suburban trains, buses, and road-based transport. Each mode offers distinct advantages and constraints that are likely to shape travel choices in the airport’s early months.

Via road: Personal vehicles or cabs/taxis

• The Atal Setu route: From South Mumbai or central areas, take Atal Setu to Sewri-Nhava Sheva side, then continue towards Ulwe/NMIA. This is the fastest and smoothest route, but will involve a toll.
• The Vashi Bridge route: From eastern suburbs (Chembur, Ghatkopar, Kurla), cross the Vashi Bridge -and drive through Navi Mumbai towards the airport. The advantage of this route is that it is toll-free but can be slower during peak traffic hours.

Travel time on these routes can range anywhere between 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on traffic and the passenger's starting point.

Via bus: Low cost but indirect

Public bus services will offer the cheapest surface connectivity to the Navi Mumbai International Airport, but they remain the least predictable option, particularly for time-sensitive travel.

Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) and Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses operate between Mumbai, Thane, and various Navi Mumbai nodes, but none provide direct access to the airport terminal.

Most bus journeys require passengers to alight at locations such as Panvel, Belapur, Nerul, or Ulwe, and then take an autorickshaw or taxi for the final leg. Travel times vary widely depending on traffic conditions, route congestion, and the number of intermediate stops. Fares are typically modest, ranging from Rs 50 to Rs 200, but multiple transfers, especially with baggage, might turn out hectic.

Via train: Affordable but indirect

Suburban rail will remain the most economical way to reach Navi Mumbai airport, but it is also the most indirect. There is no direct train service to the airport terminal, and all rail passengers must change trains at least once and will be required to complete the final stretch by road.

Passengers travelling from South Mumbai and parts of Central Mumbai typically board Harbour Line services from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) towards Vashi, Nerul or Belapur CBD. At Belapur CBD, they must switch to the Belapur–Uran suburban line to reach Targhar station. Commuters from Thane and the central suburbs can use Trans-Harbour Line services to Nerul before making the same change towards Targhar, The Indian Express reported.

Targhar station, which became operational recently, lies approximately 1.8 to 5 km from the airport terminals, depending on the route taken. From here, passengers must rely on auto-rickshaws, taxis or shuttle services to complete the last-mile journey.

Upcoming connectivity projects:

Metro Line 8, also known as the Gold Line, which will connect Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and NMIA, has been approved but is still under construction, with operations expected around 2029, according to a report by The Indian Express.

The Ulwe Coastal Road, designed to provide direct access from Atal Setu to the airport, is under construction and expected to open in early 2026. Dedicated airport rail or metro express services have yet to be announced, IE reported.

First day of flights

The airport’s inaugural day will see operations by major carriers including IndiGo, Akasa Air, Air India Express, and Star Air. Reports indicate that a total of 30 Air Traffic Movements (ATMs) are expected on the first day. This coincides with the festive Christmas-New Year period, making it a significant day for travellers and the aviation industry alike.

All about NMIA

Prime Minister Narendra Modi commissioned the state-of-the-art greenfield airport on October 8, 2025. For decades, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) at Vile Parle–Santacruz has been Mumbai’s only international gateway, handling over 50 million passengers annually. The city’s growing air traffic had put considerable pressure on CSMIA, highlighting the need for a second international airport.

Owned by the Adani Group, NMIA is set to transform the MMR, which includes Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban districts, as well as parts of Palghar, Thane, and Raigad. With the new airport, Mumbai will operate under a twin-airport model, similar to global hubs such as Dubai (DXB–DWC), London (Heathrow–Gatwick), and New York (JFK–Newark).

With modern facilities and expanded capacity, the airport will strengthen Mumbai’s position as a major aviation hub in India.