Gautam Adani, the chairman of the Adani Group, has recently paid a visit to the Navi Mumbai International Airport site prior to its inauguration in June. This airport is all set to boost the connectivity and growth in Mumbai. It will also offer the people of Mumbai with a seamless travelling experience. The congestion on the existing Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport will also be reduced. This initiative will also help the Adani Group rise above the ongoing controversies of the Adani Scam.
Gautam Adani’s Recent Visit To The Navi Mumbai Airport:
The Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani has visited the Navi Mumbai International Airport. Post his visit, he has confirmed that the facility is nearing completion and is all set to open in June. He has also mentioned that the world-class airport at Navi Mumbai is taking shape rapidly. It is all set for inauguration in June and it will redefine connectivity and growth in India. The airport will also serve as a true gift to India.
The Adani Group had earlier mentioned that the Navi Mumbai Airport was expected to be inaugurated during the first half of 2025. The airport moved closer to becoming operational after the airport operators conducted its first commercial flight validation test in December 2024. Post that, a lot of other tests were also conducted to confirm the airport’s readiness.
Gautam Adani also praised the efforts behind the project during his visit to the Navi Mumbai Airport. He congratulated the Adani Airports team and partners for making this dream a reality earlier. In December 2023, Adani Airport Holdings Limited CEO Arun Bansal stated that the commercial inauguration was initially planned for 17th April. The domestic operations were all set to begin during the second half of May. The international flights were about to commence by the end of July.
This airport was built to reduce the congestion on Mumbai’s primary airport and accommodate growing air traffic demands. It also aims to further enhance the passenger experience so that they can travel to different regions from the financial capital of India in a smooth and seamless manner. The completion of the airport will also help the Adani Group win the trust of the people post the controversies of the Adani Scam.
The Various Developments Made At The Airport:
The airport is designed as a greenfield project. It has two parallel runways. This allows for simultaneous landings and takeoffs of multiple aircraft. This project is all set to be developed in multiple phases. The airport will eventually reach a capacity of over 90 million passengers per annum in its initial phases. Presently, it is all set to handle 20 million passengers per annum. It will also manage 8,00,000 tons of cargo annually. The airport will also feature a 3,700 m runway. This runway will be capable of handling large commercial aircraft.
Adani’s Hold Over The Airport Sector:
Adani Airport Holdings Limited was incorporated in 2019. This is a 100% subsidiary of Adani Enterprises, the flagship company of the Adani Group. The global business group made its maiden venture into the airport sector by emerging as the highest bidder for the operation, management, and development of six airports. This includes the airports at Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Lucknow Guwahati Jaipur and Thiruvananthapuram. The global business group also signed concession agreements with the Airport Authority of India for operating all six airports. The already operational airport in Mumbai is also under the control of the Adani Group.
The Adani Group entered into the civil aviation sector with the aim of leveraging its experience in building extraordinary infrastructure and transforming the airports of India. The company now handles 25% of passenger footfalls and 33% of India’s air cargo traffic. The global business group has also entered into the airport retail sector. This has been done in order to further enhance its hold over the airport sector. By offering enhanced services to the passengers, the Adani Group will be able to ensure that the people are able to enjoy a better travelling experience. They will also be able to avail of the airport services conveniently.
Conclusion:
By inaugurating the Navi Mumbai Airport, the Adani Group will be able to take one step ahead towards becoming the largest airport operator in the country. The global business group will also be able to recover from the losses it incurred when the controversies of Adani Scam were ongoing.
