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By:

Bhalchandra Chorghade

11 August 2025 at 1:54:18 pm

High traffic volumes, strong punctuality

Airport handles 148 ATMs; 20,500 passengers daily Mumbai: The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) has swiftly established itself as a high-capacity aviation hub, with airport officials highlighting sustained growth in passenger traffic alongside stable operational performance since its launch on December 25, 2025. The latest data indicates that the airport is currently handling more than 148 air traffic movements (ATMs), translating into approximately 20,500 passengers passing through...

High traffic volumes, strong punctuality

Airport handles 148 ATMs; 20,500 passengers daily Mumbai: The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) has swiftly established itself as a high-capacity aviation hub, with airport officials highlighting sustained growth in passenger traffic alongside stable operational performance since its launch on December 25, 2025. The latest data indicates that the airport is currently handling more than 148 air traffic movements (ATMs), translating into approximately 20,500 passengers passing through the facility each day. Of this, around 10,500 passengers are departures, reflecting robust outbound demand while maintaining a near-balanced arrival flow. Officials pointed out that on May 6, 2026, the airport handled 27 arrivals and 45 departures, a distribution that reflects evolving airline scheduling strategies and slot optimization. The higher number of departures on the day also suggests that airlines are increasingly using NMIA as a base for outbound rotations, particularly during peak travel windows. A key highlight of NMIA’s performance has been its operational reliability. According to airport officials, on-time arrival performance currently stands at 96.4 per cent, while on-time departures are recorded at 86.7 per cent. These figures are considered strong for an airport still in the early months of operation, especially as it continues to scale up both flight movements and passenger throughput. Officials attributed this consistency to efficient coordination between air traffic control, ground handling agencies and airline operators, as well as the deployment of modern infrastructure designed to handle higher traffic volumes with minimal disruption. Growth Trajectory Officials further noted that the airport is on a clear growth trajectory, with projections made in late April 2026 indicating that NMIA could soon handle nearly 50,000 passengers daily. This anticipated jump would represent more than a two-fold increase from current levels and is expected to be driven by a combination of factors, including route expansion by domestic and international carriers, increasing passenger preference for the new facility, and the gradual redistribution of traffic from the congested Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The current scale of operations marks a sharp rise from the airport’s initial days. On its inaugural day, NMIA handled over 4,000 passengers and 48 flight movements, setting the stage for a phased but steady ramp-up. In the first five days of operations, between December 25 and December 30, 2025, the airport handled 26,021 passengers across 162 ATMs, reflecting encouraging early adoption by both airlines and passengers. Officials said that the momentum gathered pace quickly in the following weeks. By early January 2026, within just 19 days of commencing operations, NMIA had already crossed the 100,000 passenger movement mark. This rapid accumulation of traffic was seen as a strong indicator of latent demand in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and the immediate need for additional aviation capacity to supplement existing infrastructure. Steady Increase Beyond the raw numbers, officials emphasised that NMIA’s growth story is also about efficient traffic management and scalability. The steady increase in ATMs without a proportionate decline in punctuality suggests that the airport’s operational framework has been able to absorb rising volumes effectively. The high on-time arrival rate indicates streamlined airspace management and efficient landing sequences, while the relatively lower, but still strong, departure punctuality points to ongoing refinements in turnaround times and ground operations. Officials also underscored that NMIA is gradually emerging as a preferred alternative for both passengers and airlines, owing to its modern facilities, reduced congestion and improved passenger handling capabilities. As airlines continue to expand their presence, the airport is expected to play a larger role in regional and national connectivity, easing pressure on existing infrastructure while supporting the growth of India’s aviation sector. In cumulative terms, NMIA’s journey from handling just a few thousand passengers on its opening day to over 20,000 daily passengers within a matter of months reflects a steep and well-managed growth curve. Airport officials maintained that the combination of rising traffic, strong punctuality metrics and ambitious expansion projections positions NMIA as a transformative infrastructure project for the region. As traffic levels continue to climb toward the projected 50,000 daily passengers, NMIA is not only reinforcing its role as Mumbai’s second airport but also redefining traffic distribution patterns across the metropolitan region. With continued operational fine-tuning and increasing airline participation, officials believe the airport is on track to become one of India’s key aviation hubs in the near future.

Maharashtra politics at crossroads yet again

Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde arrive to pay their last respects to Ajit Pawar in Baramati.
Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde arrive to pay their last respects to Ajit Pawar in Baramati.

Mumbai: Ajit Pawar’s sudden death has thrown Maharashtra’s fragile post 2023 political arithmetic into flux. The immediate question is whether the two NCP factions will merge — stabilising both the Centre and the Mahayuti in the short term — or whether a split realignment will strengthen the BJP at the expense of a distinct NCP. Local power centres in Mumbai and Pune will be decisive in the coming weeks as party legislators and state leaders weigh options.


Presence of Ajit Pawar’s faction within the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) played the role of a dependable NDA ally, lending numerical strength and political legitimacy without demanding a visible share in power. In Maharashtra, where coalition arithmetic remains delicate, the calculus has been far more strategic. BJP’s decision to induct Ajit Pawar into the Mahayuti alliance was widely viewed as an effort to balance Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction and prevent any single ally from dominating the coalition. This triangulation has helped the BJP maintain leverage while ensuring the continuity of the state government.


Postponed Reunion

For months, there were strong indications that the two NCP factions—one led by Sharad Pawar (NCP-SP) and the other by Ajit Pawar—were exploring the possibility of reunification. Political analysts suggest that such a move was deliberately deferred, reportedly at the behest of the BJP, until after the local body elections. With the untimely demise of the prominent NCP leader, the political environment has shifted yet again. The emotional and organisational vacuum has revived discussions around reunification, succession, and long-term positioning of the party within Maharashtra’s power structure.


Scenario One: Merger and power-sharing within the NDA

Among political observers, the most discussed—and arguably most stable—scenario involves a merger of the two NCP factions followed by their formal accommodation within the NDA and the Mahayuti. In such an arrangement, senior NCP-SP leaders like Supriya Sule and Jayant Patil could take on roles at the Centre and in the Maharashtra government respectively.


This outcome would offer multiple advantages. For the BJP, it would consolidate numbers, reduce internal coalition friction, and neutralise the Pawar factor by integrating it rather than confronting it. For the NCP, reunification would restore organisational coherence and protect its identity while retaining access to power. For the state government, it would likely translate into greater stability, particularly as Maharashtra moves toward crucial electoral milestones.


Scenario Two: Sharad Pawar resists alignment with the BJP

The situation becomes considerably more complicated if Sharad Pawar chooses to remain outside the BJP-led arrangements. Such a decision would deepen the fault lines within the NCP. In this scenario, several legislators—MLAs, MLCs, and even MPs—from Ajit Pawar’s faction may opt to directly join the BJP to safeguard or enhance their political futures in both the state and at the Centre.


While this could strengthen the BJP numerically, it would come at the cost of hollowing out the NCP as an independent political force. At the same time, not all leaders from either faction may find direct absorption into the BJP politically or ideologically comfortable, particularly those with strong regional bases built under the NCP’s banner.


Scenario Three: A separate NCP within the NDA framework

If resistance to a merger with the BJP remains strong among elected representatives, a third option could emerge: the NCP continuing as a distinct entity within the NDA and Mahayuti. This arrangement would preserve the party’s separate identity while aligning it with the ruling coalition at both levels.


Such a model, however, would require careful power-sharing and constant negotiation, especially given the BJP’s dominant position. It would also test Sharad Pawar’s willingness to accept a reduced, non-central role within an alliance led firmly by the BJP.


Pawar Question

At the heart of all these scenarios lies Sharad Pawar himself. Should the party he founded insist on aligning closely with the BJP without a decisive leadership role for him, Pawar may choose to step away from active politics rather than operate as a subordinate partner.


An announcement of retirement, while symbolic, would mark the end of an era in Maharashtra politics and accelerate generational change within the NCP.


Road Ahead

For now, Maharashtra’s political future remains open-ended. The choices made by the Pawar family, the calculations of the BJP, and the aspirations of NCP legislators will together determine whether the state moves toward consolidation or further fragmentation.


What is clear is that every possible outcome carries implications not just for Maharashtra, but for the broader balance of power in national politics as well.

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