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...

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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.

ED rattled as President directs probe

Quaid Najmi
Jul 6
3 min read

Mumbai/Pune: In what is said to be unprecedented, President of India has transferred to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) a whistle-blower’s complaint to probe alleged massive scams in a posh Pune cooperative housing society (CHS) involving some Managing Committee Members, in tandem with CHS Department’s officials and outsiders.

The move that has shaken the ED brass, came after five years’ efforts by anti-corruption crusader, Kashyap M. Vyas, 69, who exposed a series of glaring irregularities allegedly perpetrated at the Ganga Platino PQR at Kharadi in Pune, in connivance with government officials, willy-nilly designed to help the builder.

Vyas has claimed the misdoings include: an alleged money-laundering scam, encroachments, illegal constructions, corruption of officials, flouting sanctioned building plans, discarding the National Building Code, and other shortcomings that may have cheated the government of potential revenue worth scores of crores rupees, though the exact figures could emerge after a forensic audit of the Society.

“Instead of taking corrective measures, the CHS Managing Committee is hounding me with fake allegations, threats, pressurizing me to shut up, protect the scamsters and department officials who have defrauded the government,” an irate Vyas told 'The Perfect Voice'.

The 17-storied CHS building has 6 shops, 208 flats of around 1200-1300 sq-feet, currently estimated to be worth around Rs. 2.25-2.75 crore.

When contacted, the Ganga Platino PQR CHS Chairman Sagar Mane told 'The Perfect Voice' he was unaware of any such developments, but revealed the Deputy Registrar of Societies conducted three audits of the society and reportedly issued “a clean chit”.

In the early days of his crusade, Vyas apprised the corruption matter to ex-union minister of housing and urban affairs Hardeep Singh Puri (in April 2019) and the builder’s purported ‘dark deeds’, seeking immediate action.

He said that at least 60 other Society members raised similar grievances that concerned the Pune Municipal Corporation, Cooperative Department headed by Union Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah, plus statutory environmental and urban planning laws.

At Puri’s behest, the PMC top officials called Vyas and 25 society members and heard them out, promised action within 3-4 weeks, slapped a show-cause notice to the builder, Subhash Goel and other steps -- but nothing moved forward thereafter.

Undeterred, Vyas moved various state and central authorities and investigation agencies, including the President, providing hard evidence like documents, official records, sting-audios, etc. demanding that all the culprits should be booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Prevention of Money Laundering Act and Prevention of Corruption Act.

“An independent probe team should be appointed from outside Maharashtra to avoid local collusion or influence. There are a host of violations/irregularities/frauds, which need proper investigation,” demanded Vyas.

He listed a few of them, including illegal formation of the Ganga Platino PWR CHS; 12 illegal penthouses built using free FSI of the society terraces of around 6,500-700 sqft; violations of fire safety, building code and MRTP Act; double/multiple parking allotted to certain members; fire-fighting systems concealed by illegal grills endangering lives; ground-floor public open spaces grabbed by shop-owners, and more.

Apprehending threats to life, Vyas has urged the government to provide full security to his family, even as the ED has initiated the process to launch a preliminary probe.

Govt officials red-flagged Pune CHS’ affairs

In June 2025, a Maharashtra government’s Senior Nodal Grievance Redressal Officer Dilip Deshpande opined that Kashyap Vyas’ matter is related to the Centre.

“He acknowledged that this massive corruption scam is beyond the state’s purview, plus either his inability or unwillingness to resolve the issue, but unwittingly justifying the jurisdiction of the central agencies like the ED, CBI, IT or CAG,” said Vyas.

Similarly, in May, a top Central official said that Vyas’ grievances are “multi-jurisdictional’, involving serious criminal, financial, human rights and governance issues”, as he sought judicial intervention after submitting overwhelming evidence in public interest.

Maharashtra has more than 1.25 lakh CHSs, with big and small scams perpetrated in thousands of societies that house more than five crore members.

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Palvinder.reliance.growth

Jul 07

An Examination of Fraudulent Practices in MahaRERA’s Issuance of Registration to Mohan Nano Estates: A Closer Look at Hari Bhatia’s Admission*

In a recent statement, Mr. Hari Bhatia, a prominent figure in the real estate sector, admitted to the incorrect issuance of a commencement certificate, which raised serious concerns regarding the credibility of the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA). His response, while acknowledging the mistake, sheds light on an issue that many industry stakeholders are now questioning — the validity of MahaRERA’s registration process, especially when it is based on fraudulent commencement certificates.

The Admission by Hari Bhatia

Mr. Bhatia’s admission came in the wake of an ongoing investigation into the authenticity of certain documents associated with real estate…