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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.

Forging a New Frontier with Chandrayaan-4

Updated: Jan 6

As India’s space ambitions soar, S. Somanath’s leadership at ISRO stands as a testament to the agency’s vision, expertise and unyielding determination.

Chandrayaan-4

In a quiet but momentous statement following the success of Chandrayaan-3 in August 2023, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S. Somanath had declared, “India is now on the Moon!” The words had echoed across the world as India became the first country to successfully soft-land a spacecraft on the Moon’s south pole, cementing its place in the annals of space exploration. Under Somanath’s leadership, ISRO had joined an exclusive club of space-faring nations—becoming the fourth after the U.S., Russia, and China to achieve a lunar surface touchdown.


Yet, as significant as this achievement was, it was merely a stepping stone to the more ambitious Chandrayaan-4 mission. As the ISRO chief, Somanath now finds himself at the helm of a rapidly advancing space program, navigating the complexities of the next great frontier: returning lunar soil samples to Earth. This mission will not only mark a pivotal moment in India’s space aspirations but also showcase the sophistication of the technologies that ISRO is now mastering under Somanath’s guidance.


Sreedhara Somanath, with a background in aerospace engineering, is not only a visionary leader but also a seasoned engineer with a deep understanding of the intricacies of space exploration. Born in 1963, Somanath’s journey into the world of space began in 1985 when he joined the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram. Over the years, he became a key figure in the development of India’s launch vehicles, particularly the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). As a director at VSSC, he earned recognition for his pivotal role in the integration of the PSLV, which would go on to become one of ISRO’s most successful and reliable rockets.


Somanath’s expertise lies in the system engineering of launch vehicles. He was integral to the development of the GSLV Mk-III rocket, a crucial piece of ISRO’s arsenal for heavier payloads, which played a central role in the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon.


When Somanath took over as ISRO’s chairman in January 2022, following the tenure of Dr. K. Sivan, the agency was at the cusp of major advancements. As chairman, Somanath’s focus has been clear: to continue ISRO’s trajectory of scientific excellence while simultaneously fostering innovation in space technologies. His work on Chandrayaan-3 and the upcoming Chandrayaan-4 mission epitomizes his commitment to India’s expanding ambitions in space.


The Chandrayaan-4 mission is poised to push the boundaries of India’s space program even further. Building on the success of Chandrayaan-3, which soft-landed the Vikram lander on the Moon’s south pole in August 2023, ISRO now sets its sights on lunar sample return.


For Somanath, Chandrayaan-4 is the culmination of decades of scientific research, engineering prowess and strategic vision. The mission will require the successful execution of space docking experiments—a capability ISRO is developing with its SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment). In December 2024, ISRO launched the C60 mission, placing two satellites in orbit to demonstrate the technology of rendezvous and docking. This experiment, aimed at mastering orbital manoeuvres, is vital for Chandrayaan-4, as it will involve docking multiple modules in space before they return lunar soil to Earth.


The ability to dock and undock spacecraft is crucial for future space missions, particularly with India’s plans for a manned mission to the Moon and the establishment of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) by 2035.


For Somanath and his team, this is the next frontier. With Chandrayaan-4, ISRO is striving to prove India’s capability to execute complex space operations, opening the door to future missions that could change humanity’s relationship with the Moon and beyond.


2025 promises to be a landmark year for ISRO, as it prepares to launch multiple missions, including the NVS-02 navigation satellite, and a series of GSLV and PSLV launches. These missions will not only demonstrate ISRO’s ongoing commitment to space exploration but also solidify its position as a leader in space technology. From the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 to the imminent Chandrayaan-4, ISRO’s trajectory under Somnath’s guidance is one of remarkable progress. But he remains focused on the horizon, as the true potential of India’s space program is only beginning to be realized.

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