India is gearing up for a major infrastructure leap with the announcement of plans for the country’s first-ever offshore airport, set to be constructed on an artificial island near the upcoming Vadhvan seaport in the Palghar district of Maharashtra.
The ambitious project, tentatively named Vadhvan Airport, will serve as the third major air hub for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), aiming to significantly ease congestion at the existing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) and the soon-to-be-operational Navi Mumbai International Airport.
The development is a strategic move to create a world-class logistics and transport ecosystem, combining a mega-seaport and an international airport at a single location. The Vadhvan Port itself is already approved for construction on reclaimed land, a model that inspired the offshore airport concept.
- Location: Near the Vadhvan Port in Palghar district, approximately 125 km north of Mumbai.
- Concept: To be built on an artificial island, taking inspiration from successful models like Hong Kong International Airport and Japan’s Kansai International Airport.
- Status: The project has received initial approvals from the federal and state governments. A Detailed Project Report (DPR) is currently being prepared.
- Timeline: Maharashtra officials have expressed hope that initial groundwork could begin as early as 2026.
To ensure the new airport’s accessibility, the state government plans to integrate it with major high-speed corridors. Connectivity plans include:
- A dedicated stop on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train corridor.
- Direct links to key expressways, including the New Delhi-Mumbai Expressway.
The Vadhvan Airport is projected to be a futuristic solution to the region’s rapidly growing air traffic demand, positioning the Mumbai Metropolitan Region as a global multimodal logistics and aviation centre.
