‘Glimpse of Viksit Bharat’: Modi unveils Navi Mumbai airport

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated phase-I of the Navi Mumbai International Airport, India’s largest greenfield airport project built at a cost of Rs 19,650 crore.

Spread over 1,160 hectares, the airport is expected to significantly enhance India’s aviation capacity and ease congestion at Mumbai’s existing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.

Developed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, the Navi Mumbai International Airport will serve as the second international airport for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Before the formal inauguration, the Prime Minister took a walkthrough of the newly constructed terminal and its associated facilities.

Describing it as a “glimpse of Viksit Bharat” that will help make the Mumbai region Asia’s biggest connectivity hub, the PM said the facility will also help Maharashtra’s farmers get connected with supermarkets in Europe and West Asia. He also remarked that Mumbai has now received a fully underground metro, which will make travel easier and save time for commuters.

During his visit, Modi also inaugurated Phase 2B of the Mumbai Metro Line-3, connecting Acharya Atre Chowk to Cuffe Parade, developed at a cost of Rs 12,200 crore. He dedicated the entire Rs 37,270 crore Mumbai Metro Line 3 (Aqua Line) to the nation, marking a major milestone in Mumbai’s urban transport expansion. The Prime Minister also launched the Mumbai One app, which provides integrated mobile ticketing and other services across multiple public transport operators.

He also unveiled the Short-Term Employability Programme (STEP), an initiative of Maharashtra’s Department of Skill, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The programme will be implemented across 400 government ITIs and 150 technical high schools, aiming to align skill development with industry needs and improve youth employability.

The Prime Minister also inaugurated the ninth edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025. He noted that this year’s event — Asia’s largest telecom, media and technology forum — showcased innovations in areas such as financial fraud prevention, quantum communication, 6G, optical communication and semiconductors.

“India Mobile Congress and India’s success in the telecom sector reflect the strength of the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision,” Modi said, highlighting the transformation of India’s mobile manufacturing ecosystem. “The country, which once struggled with 2G, now has 5G coverage in nearly every district,” he added.

Modi underlined that electronics production in India has increased sixfold since 2014, mobile phone manufacturing has grown 28 times and exports have risen 127 times. He cited data from a leading smartphone manufacturer showing that 45 Indian firms are now part of its supply chain, creating about 3.5 lakh jobs.

Emphasising the role of startups and innovators in driving this growth, Modi said the government has supported indigenous research through initiatives like the Telecom Technology Development Fund and Digital Communications Innovations Square. He added that India is funding test beds for advanced technologies such as 5G, 6G, optical communications and terahertz to encourage product development and collaboration among startups, industry and academia.

The PM said India’s progress in digital technology, R&D and global standard-setting has made it an emerging force on the world stage. “The success of the India Mobile Congress shows that India’s technological future is in capable hands,” he remarked.