Vadhvan Airport project to revolutionise Mumbai’s connectivity

MUMBAI: India is set to embark on the construction of its inaugural offshore airport near Mumbai, the country’s financial hub, a significant step in the Narendra Modi-led government’s ambitious infrastructure overhaul plan.

The airport, mirroring the design of Hong Kong International Airport and Osaka’s Kansai International Airport which are built on man-made islands, will be located on an artificial island near the Vadhvan seaport on the western coast, reported Bloomberg.

This project has received preliminary approvals from federal environmental and defense departments, along with the Maharashtra state government, following a meeting last month. The Airports Authority of India will support the initiation of feasibility studies, which will then inform the estimated investment required.

Positioned approximately 125 kilometres (77.7 miles) from Mumbai’s existing international airport, the Vadhvan airport project demonstrates the government’s expansive ambitions and the inherent challenges in large-scale endeavours. Prime Minister Modi himself mentioned the impending commencement of work on the Vadhvan airport projects during an election campaign in Maharashtra in November.

This initiative is part of a broader trend in India, where numerous road, airport, and power projects are underway, reflecting the nation’s commitment to invest billions to address its substantial infrastructure deficit, the second largest globally after Brazil.

Modi says US and India target $500 billion bilateral trade by 2030

Considering the nature of such complex projects, it’s anticipated that the operational phase will take over a decade, similar to the timeline for China’s Dalian Jinzhou Bay International Airport, the world’s largest airport built on a man-made island, scheduled for completion in 2035.

The Vadhvan seaport, once completed, will be three times the size of India’s current largest ports and will also be its deepest. The nearby offshore airport, built on reclaimed land, is expected to enhance connectivity and circumvent the land acquisition issues that often slow down projects in India. A crucial challenge for the Vadhvan airport will be ensuring sufficient passenger traffic to justify the substantial investment. While the Modi government is actively promoting the construction of more airports to improve regional connectivity, the success of these new terminals in smaller towns has been varied.

The Vadhvan airport is planned to be Mumbai’s third airport in the future. Rapid transportation options will be crucial between this new facility, the existing airport in Mumbai’s city centre, and the second airport being developed by the Adani Group in Navi Mumbai. The blueprint for the offshore airport incorporates road and high-speed rail connectivity.

Notably, the proposed bullet train route between Mumbai and Ahmedabad will include a stop near the airport. Moreover, two key inter-state highways, connecting New Delhi-Mumbai and Mumbai-Vadodara, will provide convenient access for air travelers to the Vadhvan airport.