Prime minister (PM) Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated the long-awaited Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) and dedicated several landmark development projects in Mumbai, including the city’s first fully underground metro line, while also launching new initiatives to boost urban mobility and youth skill development.
The PM says the completion of these projects marks the end of Mumbai’s decades-long wait for its second international airport and showcases India’s rapid progress in connectivity and infrastructure. “The Navi Mumbai International Airport will make this region one of Asia’s biggest connectivity hubs,” he says, adding that the new metro line will ease travel and save time for millions of commuters.
Joined by Maharashtra's governor Acharya Devvrat, chief minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis, Union ministers Ramdas Athawale, Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu and Murlidhar Mohol, as well as Japan’s Ambassador Keiichi Ono, the prime minister hailed the projects as 'symbols of a developing India built on speed, scale, and service'.
Navi Mumbai International Airport: India’s New Aviation Gateway
Built at a cost of Rs19,650 crore, the Navi Mumbai International Airport is India’s largest greenfield airport and has been developed under a public–private partnership (PPP) model. Spread across 1,160 hectares, the airport will complement the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) and ease congestion in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Designed in the shape of a lotus, symbolising prosperity and culture, the airport will ultimately handle 90mn (million) passengers annually and 3.25mn metric tonnes of cargo. The project features a 47MW (mega watt) solar power facility, dedicated sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) storage, and EV-based transportation. It will also be India’s first airport connected by water taxi, integrating sustainable transport options.
PM Modi noted that the new airport will help connect Maharashtra’s farmers directly to global markets by reducing export costs for perishable goods. “This airport will open new avenues for small industries and create thousands of jobs,” he says.
Mumbai Metro Line 3: City’s First Underground Network
The prime minister also inaugurated Phase 2B of Mumbai Metro Line 3, stretching from Acharya Atre Chowk to Cuffe Parade, completing the entire 33.5km Aqua Line at a total cost exceeding Rs37,000 crore.
Mumbai’s first and only fully underground metro line, the project links Aarey to Cuffe Parade with 27 stations, providing seamless connectivity to South Mumbai’s financial and heritage districts—including the Bombay High Court, Mantralaya, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), BSE, and Nariman Point.
Designed to cater to 13 lakh passengers daily, the new metro promises to reduce travel time from two hours to just 30 minutes to 40 minutes. PM Modi called it “a living symbol of developing India,” built with precision while preserving Mumbai’s historic architecture.
The prime minister also recalled that the project had once been halted by a previous government, delaying relief for millions of citizens. “The nation suffered losses worth thousands of crores due to political obstruction,” he says.
'Mumbai One' Mobility App for Seamless Commuting
To enhance urban mobility, Mr Modi launched 'Mumbai One', a unified digital ticketing app integrating 11 public transport operators, including the Mumbai Metro, Monorail, Suburban Railways, BEST buses, and municipal transport services from Navi Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, and Mira-Bhayander.
The app allows commuters to book a single ticket across multiple modes—including metro, rail, and bus—while providing real-time updates, route suggestions, and an SOS safety feature. The prime minister said the app is part of the government’s vision for 'One Nation, One Mobility'.
Skill Development: Maharashtra’s New Employability Push
PM Modi also launched the short-term employability program (STEP), a major initiative by the Maharashtra government to align technical education with industry needs.
The scheme will operate across 400 government ITIs and 150 technical high schools, creating 2,500 new training batches, including 364 for women. Courses will focus on emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, solar energy, and additive manufacturing.
He also highlighted the Rs60,000 crore PM Setu scheme, which aims to link ITIs nationwide with industries to provide practical, hands-on training for India’s youth.
Vision of a 'Viksit Bharat'
Emphasising that “India’s development journey is defined by both speed and progress,” the prime minister says projects like airports, expressways, metros, and sea bridges are giving wings to the nation’s aspirations. “When the Vande Bharat trains run, when bullet trains advance, when sea bridges connect cities—India’s progress becomes visible,” he says.
He added that India’s aviation sector exemplifies this transformation, with over 160 airports today compared to just 74 in 2014. The UDAN scheme, he said, has allowed millions of first-time flyers from smaller towns to take to the skies, making India the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market.
Infrastructure, Employment, and Swadeshi Spirit
The prime minister says the government’s investment in infrastructure—such as the Rs76,000 crore Vadhavan Port project—is creating large-scale employment opportunities. He also reiterated his call to embrace swadeshi products, urging citizens to 'buy Indian, gift Indian, and wear Indian', to strengthen local industry and generate jobs.
“Every rupee spent on infrastructure enhances citizens’ convenience and capability,” Mr Modi says, contrasting this with earlier governments that, he alleged, 'stalled development through corruption and misgovernance'.
Concluding his address, the prime minister praised Maharashtra’s role in driving India’s growth and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to empowering every village and town in the state.
