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By:

Bhalchandra Chorghade

11 August 2025 at 1:54:18 pm

NMIA set for commercial take-off on December 25

Long-term expansion plans take shape Mumbai: Even as long-term expansion plans gather momentum, Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) is preparing to mark a defining milestone with the commencement of commercial operations from December 25, 2025. Sources familiar with the development confirmed that the first flight is scheduled to land at NMIA at around 8.30 am from Bengaluru, operated by IndiGo. The same aircraft will subsequently depart for Delhi, symbolically placing the greenfield...

NMIA set for commercial take-off on December 25

Long-term expansion plans take shape Mumbai: Even as long-term expansion plans gather momentum, Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) is preparing to mark a defining milestone with the commencement of commercial operations from December 25, 2025. Sources familiar with the development confirmed that the first flight is scheduled to land at NMIA at around 8.30 am from Bengaluru, operated by IndiGo. The same aircraft will subsequently depart for Delhi, symbolically placing the greenfield airport on India’s aviation map and formally integrating it into the country’s busiest air corridors. This operational launch comes at a time when the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO), the project’s nodal planning authority, has initiated the process to appoint a consultant for conducting a geotechnical feasibility study for a proposed third runway at NMIA. The parallel movement of near-term operational readiness and long-term capacity planning underlines the strategic importance of the airport, not just as a secondary facility to Mumbai, but as a future aviation hub in its own right. The December 25 launch date carries significance beyond symbolism. NMIA has been envisioned for over two decades as a critical solution to the capacity constraints at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), which operates close to saturation. With limited scope for further expansion at Mumbai’s existing airport, NMIA’s entry into operations is expected to ease congestion, rationalise flight schedules and improve overall passenger experience across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Modest Operations Initial operations are expected to be modest, focusing on select domestic routes, with Bengaluru and Delhi being logical starting points given their high passenger volumes and strong business connectivity with Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. Aviation experts note that starting with trunk routes allows operators and airport systems to stabilise operations, fine-tune processes and gradually scale up capacity. IndiGo’s choice as the first operator also reflects the airline’s dominant market share and its strategy of early-mover advantage at new airports. While NMIA’s first phase includes two runways, the initiation of a geotechnical feasibility study for a third runway highlights planners’ expectations of robust long-term demand. CIDCO’s move to appoint a consultant at this early stage suggests that authorities are keen to future-proof the airport, learning from the capacity limitations faced by CSMIA. A third runway, if found technically and environmentally feasible, would significantly enhance NMIA’s ability to handle peak-hour traffic, support parallel operations and attract international long-haul flights over time. The feasibility study will play a critical role in determining soil conditions, land stability, construction challenges and environmental sensitivities, particularly given Navi Mumbai’s complex terrain and proximity to mangroves and water bodies. Experts point out that such studies are essential to avoid cost overruns and execution delays, which have historically plagued large infrastructure projects in the region. From an economic perspective, the operationalisation of NMIA is expected to act as a catalyst for growth across Navi Mumbai and adjoining regions. Improved air connectivity is likely to boost commercial real estate, logistics parks, hospitality and tourism, while also strengthening the case for ancillary infrastructure such as metro lines, road corridors and airport-linked business districts. The timing of the airport’s opening also aligns with broader infrastructure upgrades underway in the MMR, including new highways and rail connectivity, which could amplify NMIA’s impact. However, challenges remain. Smooth coordination between airlines, ground handling agencies, security forces and air traffic control will be critical during the initial phase. Any operational hiccups could affect public perception of the new airport, making the first few weeks crucial. Additionally, the transition of flights from CSMIA to NMIA will need careful calibration to ensure passenger convenience and airline viability. As NMIA prepares to welcome its first aircraft on December 25, the simultaneous push towards planning a third runway signals a clear message: the airport is not just opening for today’s needs, but is being positioned to serve the region’s aviation demands for decades to come.

Aamir-Hirani set for first-ever biopic on Dadasaheb Phalke

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Mumbai: Almost 81 years after his passing, the first-ever biopic of the Father of Indian Cinema, Dhundiraj Govind Phalke – revered as ‘Dadasaheb Phalke’ – will soon start rolling and is scheduled for a 2026 release.


The film shall be directed by Rajkumar Hirani with mega-star Aamir Khan slated to play the role of the humble and multi-faceted personality, who created history in India as the producer-director of the first feature film, “Raja Harishchandra”, 115 years ago.


His grandson, Chandrashekhar Pusalkar-Phalke said that the film has been written by Hindukush Bharadwaj and his son Aviskhar Bharadwaj after painstaking efforts spanning four years, deep-diving into Dadasaheb Phalke’s life and his mind.

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“The Bharadwajs have put their heart-and-soul into the venture. We had multiple sittings and I disclosed to them many yet-unknown facets of Dadasaheb, as told to me by his daughter (my mother), Vrinda Pusalkar-Phalke, over the years. I was told that when Hirani heard about it, he readily agreed for the venture,” Pusalkar-Phalke told ‘The Perfect Voice’.


Hindukush Bharadwaj said that along with his son, the duo virtually moved mountains to understand the legendary film-maker, went to public-private libraries to hunt for materials on his life, pored over media-reports of that era, books in various languages, speaking to octogenarians linked with Bollywood, etc.


“We worked on the old cameras of that era to comprehend how Dadasaheb must have functioned, doing everything for the first time with limited resources, we tried out the trick photography as he did manually, retracing every possible aspect of his film-making life. Then, we discussed everything threadbare with Pusalkar-Phalke and other descendants to authenticate each point,” an excited Bharadwaj told The Perfect Voice.


The senior Bharadwaj said that when Aamir Khan heard the story, he had tears in his eyes and he declared that there was no way he could miss working on this historical biopic.


Set against the backdrop of India’s Independence Movement when the life of the young Dhundiraj starts from scratch, growing as an ordinary artist, fighting all odds and then went to found and bequeath the world’s largest indigenous film industry to the country.


Bharadwaj and Pusalkar-Phalke said that the pre-production works are on, with a Hollywood studio creating AI-based designs for the period-feel of the film, and the actual shooting will commence in October 2025 with a planned 2026 in theatres.


“This is no longer a commercial venture. Hirani, along with Abhijat Joshi and ourselves treat it as a ‘tribute’ to the great soul Dadasaheb Phalke who left an indelible mark on Indian history,” said Bharadwaj.


“Given the efforts, the involvement of stalwarts in every department, we are optimistic that the proposed film will make it to the Oscars,” smiled Pusalkar-Phalke, who unveiled the official website (www.dpiam.org.in) as ‘Dadasaheb Phalke International Awareness Mission’ in Feb. 2025.


The legend called Dadasaheb Phalke

Born in Trimbakeshwar (Nashik), Dadasaheb Phalke (April 30, 1870-Feb. 16, 1944) – with original surname of ‘Bhat’ – was educated in Mumbai’s Sir J. J. School of Arts and Kala Bhavan in Baroda (now, in Gujarat).


Barely in his early-forties, he created history with India’s first full-length film, “Raja Harishchandra” (released May 3, 1913), made after great personal sacrifices.


Interestingly his ancestors, the Bhats, supplied cut banana leaves to the Peshwas, and the vocation was traditionally known as ‘Phalke’, hence that occupational surname stuck, and later became historical.


As the country, then under British rule, remained in awe of the maiden silent film, Dadasaheb Phalke made two more films, “Mohini Bhasmasur” (1913) and “Satyavan Savitri” (1914).


He shot into limelight with the first-ever blockbuster hit film of India, “Lanka Dahan” (1917), in which he also introduced the fascinating concept of a ‘double-role character’.


Chandrashekhar and his wife Mrudula remember how their grandpa unfailingly credited his doting wife, Saraswati Phalke for his success in film-making - that has now mushroomed into a gigantic entertainment industry that ranks among the biggest money-spinners for the national economy.


“He made a total of 75 films, of which only one was a talkie, ‘Gangavataran’ in 1937. Many of his films became very popular, plus he was a visionary, a trendsetter in several aspects of film-making which inspired future generations,” said the Pusalkar couple.


Pusalkar-Phalke describes his Grandpa as “accidental film-maker” who had equally mastered other arts drawing, painting, photography, theatre, model-making, printing and learnt magic from the American wizard Carl Hertz (1859-1924) – but his passion for films made him immortal.


“We have been appealing to confer ‘Bharat Ratna’ on Dadasaheb Phalke, but there is no response from successive governments. We shall keep trying…” said the Pusalkar couple.

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