Last Updated:
The airport’s connectivity blueprint includes road and rail links, including a proposed stop on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train route.
The airport will be located on a man-made island near the Vadhvan seaport, along the country’s western coast. (Representational Image)
India is preparing to construct its first-ever offshore airport, near Mumbai, as part of the government’s plan to upgrade the country’s infrastructure.
The airport will be built on an artificial island close to the Vadhvan seaport, along the western coast of India. Furthermore, it will be designed similarly to Hong Kong International Airport and Osaka’s Kansai International Airport, both of which are on man-made islands.
As per The Financial Express, the project has already received initial approvals from the federal environment and defence departments, as well as the Maharashtra state government. Feasibility studies are now set to begin, with the Airports Authority of India involved. After these studies are completed, the total investment for the airport will be revealed.
The new airport, located around 125 km from Mumbai’s main international airport, is part of the government’s ambitious plans to upgrade the nation’s infrastructure.
Although the aviation, environment, and defence ministries have not responded to queries about the Vadhvan airport project, the initiative signals India’s commitment to major infrastructure advancements. However, projects of this scale often take years.
The Vadhvan seaport, expected to be three times larger and the deepest of India’s current ports, will further enhance the region’s connectivity. The airport, also located on reclaimed land, will help avoid the delays that often arise from land acquisition issues.
One major challenge will be ensuring enough passenger traffic to justify the hefty investment. Vadhvan is being planned as Mumbai’s third airport. To make it successful, seamless transport links between this new airport, the existing Mumbai terminals, and the upcoming Navi Mumbai airport (being developed by the Adani Group) will be crucial.
