India is set to build its first offshore airport near Mumbai, the country’s financial capital, as part of the Narendra Modi-led government’s initiative to transform the nation’s infrastructure, sources familiar with the matter were quoted.
According to the report, the new airport will be located on an artificial island close to the Vadhvan seaport along India’s west coast. The sources, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the information, informed that the design of the airport will be similar to Hong Kong International Airport and Osaka’s Kansai International Airport, both of which are situated on man-made islands.
Initial approvals secured for Vadhvan Airport project
The project received initial approvals from the federal environment and defense departments, as well as the Maharashtra state government, in a meeting held last month. Feasibility studies will be launched, with the Airports Authority of India aiding the process. Once those studies are complete, an estimated investment figure will be revealed.
The Vadhvan airport, located about 125 kilometers from Mumbai’s current international airport, highlights the scale of the Modi government’s ambitious plans, while also presenting significant challenges. Prime Minister Modi had mentioned the start of construction for the Vadhvan airport during an election rally in Maharashtra last November.
India’s infrastructure revolution
India is undertaking a major push to address its massive infrastructure gap, which is the second-largest in the world, after Brazil. Across the country, billions of dollars are being spent on constructing roads, airports, and power facilities.
The report stated that the representatives from India’s aviation, environment, and defense ministries did not respond to inquiries regarding the Vadhvan airport project, and emails to the office of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis went unanswered.
Large-scale infrastructure projects like this one often take more than a decade to become operational. For example, China’s Dalian Jinzhou Bay International Airport, the world’s largest airport on a man-made island, is expected to be completed in 2035.
Vadhvan Seaport to be India’s largest and deepest
Once completed, the Vadhvan seaport will be three times larger than India’s largest existing ports and its deepest. The nearby offshore airport, built on reclaimed land, will enhance connectivity and avoid delays often caused by land acquisition issues.
A major challenge for the Vadhvan airport will be ensuring sufficient passenger traffic to justify the large-scale investment required. While the Modi government has advocated for more airports to improve regional connectivity, some newly built terminals in smaller towns have struggled to attract sufficient users.
Bullet Train, highways and Mumbai’s new connectivity plan
The Vadhvan airport is being envisioned as Mumbai’s third airport in the future. To make it viable, rapid transit options between this new project and Mumbai’s existing terminals, as well as the second airport being developed by the Adani Group at Navi Mumbai, will be essential.
The airport blueprint includes road and high-speed rail connectivity, with a proposed bullet train line between Mumbai and Ahmedabad making a stop near the Vadhvan airport. Two major inter-state highways—New Delhi-Mumbai and Mumbai-Vadodara—will also be connected to the airport, providing easy and quick access for travelers.
