India’s Best Offshore Airport to Be Built in Mumbai: CM Devendra Fadnavis

Air connectivity to be expanded to 30 districts in Maharashtra; ‘UDAN Yatri Cafés’ to be launched soon – Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu

Mumbai : Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that India’s best offshore airport will soon be constructed in Mumbai, making it the city’s third airport. Drawing a parallel with the Vadhavan Port, which is set to become the country’s premier offshore maritime hub, Fadnavis said the upcoming airport would play a similarly transformative role in civil aviation.

Speaking at the Western Region Ministers’ Conference organized by the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation at Hotel Taj Lands End, Bandra, the CM highlighted that currently 24 districts in the state have airstrip and airport facilities, and this number will be increased to 30 districts in the coming years. Also present at the event were Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu, MoS Muralidhar Mohol, Goa’s Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte, Gujarat’s Civil Aviation Minister Balvantsinh Rajput, MP Transport Minister Uday Pratap Singh, and Civil Aviation Secretary Sameer Kumar Sinha.

Maharashtra’s Vision for Aviation

Fadnavis emphasized that as India emerges as the world’s fourth-largest economy, the country requires a robust aviation ecosystem. Once considered solely the Centre’s domain, aviation has now become a priority subject for progressive states. He noted that runway upgrades and night-landing facilities are critical to attracting investors, and a proposal for a new airport in Gadchiroli, a remote district, has been submitted to the Centre. The expected investment in the region is around ₹1.5 lakh crore, with potential to grow to ₹10 lakh crore.

He mentioned that the Navi Mumbai airport, which began as an idea in the 1990s, took 15 years to obtain the required seven clearances, all of which were finally granted at once by PM Narendra Modi. With Navi Mumbai Airport and the Atal Setu, a transformative development corridor is taking shape, potentially tripling Mumbai’s urban footprint and contributing towards the goal of making Maharashtra a trillion-dollar economy by 2030. The MMR region and Vadhavan Port area alone could contribute $1.5 trillion to the economy.

Fadnavis also urged the Centre to relocate the radar at Dahisar and the transmission tower at DN Nagar to help resolve long-pending infrastructure issues.

UDAN Yatri Café and Enhanced Connectivity

Union Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu announced that the Centre will soon launch the ‘UDAN Yatri Café’ initiative under PM Modi’s vision, aiming to enhance passenger experience. He said that nodal officers will be appointed to ensure better coordination between states and the Centre. Highlighting the potential of western states like Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, MP, Daman, Diu, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, where clear skies prevail for over 300 days, he said these regions can become aviation growth hubs. He assured that the Centre will continue supporting states with necessary approvals and schemes.

Faster Aviation Services: MoS Muralidhar Mohol

Union Minister of State Muralidhar Mohol emphasized that the Centre’s UDAN scheme is making air travel accessible for common citizens and that the government’s goal is to accelerate the growth of aviation services, especially in western India, through better Centre-state coordination.

Regional Leaders Weigh In

Goa Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte highlighted the role of aviation in boosting tourism and connectivity for smaller states like Goa.
MP Transport Minister Uday Pratap Singh praised the Centre’s policies for accelerating regional development and noted positive outcomes from the UDAN scheme.
Gujarat Industry Minister Balvantsinh Rajput spoke of the state’s key role in aviation, mentioning efforts to develop new airports to promote tourism.

Other Highlights

The event also witnessed the release of a new book titled “Full Scale Emergency Mock Drills: Preparing Airports for the Unexpected” by the Airports Authority of India, focusing on emergency preparedness in aviation.

This coordinated push between state and Centre is expected to significantly boost infrastructure, tourism, and connectivity, positioning Maharashtra and the western region as pivotal players in India’s aviation future.