PM Modi inaugurates a second international airport for India’s financial capital, Mumbai

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently opened a new international airport in Mumbai, India’s financial hub, marking a significant step in growing the country’s aviation network. This new facility, called the Navi Mumbai International Airport, is expected to start flights in December. Once operational, Mumbai will become the only major city in India to have two international airports. It is designed to relieve the heavy traffic at the already very busy Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and become an important travel and shipping hub in Asia.

Built by the Adani Group at an estimated cost of $2.2 billion, this airport is the latest example of India’s commitment to modernizing its infrastructure and boosting air travel as its economy expands. Over the last ten years, the Indian government has focused on opening and upgrading many airports to connect smaller cities and improve cargo transport. Official figures show the number of airports in India has increased sharply from 74 in 2014 to 160, demonstrating the push to make air travel a major factor in the country’s economic growth.