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By:

Bhalchandra Chorghade

11 August 2025 at 1:54:18 pm

International flights from July 1

Mumbai: Mumbai’s rapidly expanding second aviation hub may be preparing for its biggest operational leap yet. International flight operations from Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) are tentatively expected to commence from July 1, according to sources familiar with the development, although details regarding participating airlines, destinations, and flight frequencies are still being finalized. If the timeline materializes, the move would mark a significant milestone for the greenfield...

International flights from July 1

Mumbai: Mumbai’s rapidly expanding second aviation hub may be preparing for its biggest operational leap yet. International flight operations from Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) are tentatively expected to commence from July 1, according to sources familiar with the development, although details regarding participating airlines, destinations, and flight frequencies are still being finalized. If the timeline materializes, the move would mark a significant milestone for the greenfield airport, which has already witnessed sharp growth in domestic passenger traffic within months of beginning operations on December 25, 2025. Aviation industry observers believe the introduction of international services could substantially accelerate traffic redistribution across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region while easing pressure on the heavily congested Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA). Sources indicated that discussions are underway with multiple carriers regarding slot allocation and operational readiness. However, officials maintained that the July 1 date remains tentative and subject to regulatory clearances, airline preparedness, and completion of final operational protocols linked to immigration, customs, and international passenger handling systems. The expected rollout comes at a time when NMIA is already demonstrating strong operational momentum. Airport officials said the facility is currently handling more than 148 air traffic movements (ATMs) daily, translating into approximately 20,500 passengers every day. Around 10,500 of these passengers are outbound travelers, reflecting growing demand from flyers increasingly shifting to the new airport. Officials noted that the airport’s traffic growth has been accompanied by relatively stable operational performance. According to airport authorities, on-time arrivals currently stand at 96.4%, while on-time departures are recorded at 86.7%. Industry experts say such figures are considered robust for an airport still in its initial expansion phase. The proposed international launch is also expected to strengthen NMIA’s role in Mumbai’s broader aviation ecosystem. Industry stakeholders believe airlines may initially deploy short-haul Gulf and Southeast Asian routes from the airport before gradually expanding to longer international sectors depending on passenger response and bilateral slot availability. Officials have previously projected that NMIA could eventually handle nearly 50,000 passengers daily, more than double its current throughput. Analysts say the commencement of international operations could significantly accelerate that target. Experts believe international connectivity could now become the airport’s defining next phase. “Domestic operations established the airport operationally, but international flights will determine how quickly NMIA evolves into a true global gateway,” an aviation consultant said. Passengers, meanwhile, are expected to benefit from reduced congestion, shorter turnaround times, and modern terminal infrastructure. With CSMIA operating under significant slot constraints, NMIA’s emergence is increasingly being viewed as essential to sustaining Mumbai’s long-term aviation growth.

Metro 5 corridor to be MMR’s largest

Mumbai: Mumbai is to get the Mumbai Metro Region’s largest metro corridor, Metro Line 5, at 34.21 km, following the approval of its extended phases. At the same time, Phase 1 of the project is progressing towards the CMRS inspection stage. This can be seen as a major boost to regional connectivity across the MMR.


Extension of Line 5, which is Metro Line 5A, will increase connectivity across Thane, Bhiwandi, Kalyan, Ulhasnagar and surrounding growth centres. Earlier, Metro Line 5 was 22.38 km long, and with the addition of the 11.83 km long Metro Line 5A, the total corridor length will become 34.21 km. The estimated cost of the Metro Line 5 corridor is Rs 18,130 crore.


Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “Metro Line 5 is a critical intervention for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, especially for Bhiwandi and the Kalyan–Dombivli belt, which are among the most important economic centres of the region. Bhiwandi, home to one of Asia’s largest textile and warehousing hubs, and the Kalyan–Dombivli region with a population of over 35 lakh, require fast, high-capacity connectivity to unlock their full potential. This expanded corridor will seamlessly connect these growth centres with suburban rail and key highways, enabling faster, safer and more efficient mobility for lakhs of citizens. I am confident that Phase 1 will be opened for the public by the end of this year.”


Deputy Chief Minister & Chairman, MMRDA, Eknath Shinde, said, “By integrating with suburban rail and major highways, Metro Line 5 will serve lakhs of workers, traders and citizens, and act as a key enabler of regional economic growth.”


Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee, Metropolitan Commissioner, said, “Metro Line 5 Phase 1 has reached an advanced stage of execution, with station infrastructure steadily taking shape. We are now preparing for the CMRS inspection, which is a critical milestone towards commissioning. Once operational, the corridor will play a key role in advancing the ‘Mumbai in Minutes’ vision by significantly reducing travel time across the region.”


AC locals saw 1.5 crore passengers in five months: CR
AC Local services by the Central Railway saw an increase in the number of passengers travelling. In five months, from January 26 to May 20, around 1.5 crore passengers travelled in the AC locals. The average comes down to 1.30 Lakh passengers per day. This was an increase when compared to the same time period in 2025.  

This is because the Central Railways increased the number of AC locals in 2026 more than it had last year in 2025. Last year, the number of Local AC trains operated was 6,834. The number increased to 8,991, causing an increase of 31 per cent.

As a result of the increase in services, daily average passengers grew from 87,596 in 2025 to 1,30,075 in 2026, a jump of 48.5 per cent. The passengers per service also improved from 1,474 in 2025 to 1,664 in 2026, indicating that trains are running fuller even with more services on track.

Overall occupancy for 2026, as per AC local figures for the period, stood at an average of 1664 passengers per service, higher than the average of 1474 passengers per service in 2025, reflecting a 12.9 per cent increase in average passengers carried  per service.

The number of the total passengers carried during the period rose to 1.5 crore in 2026 from 1 crore in 2025, a 50 per cent growth. Due to this reason, the daily average revenue correspondingly increased to Rs 56.00 lakh in 2026 from Rs 38.50 lakh in 2025, while total revenue for the period touched Rs 64.40 crore against Rs 44.27 crore last year.

AC local services on Central Railway increased from 66 to 80 with services running on the CSMT-Kalyan, Badlapur and Titwala main line in May 2025. With the introduction of AC local services on the CSMT-Panvel section with effect from January 2026, AC local services totalled 94. Further enhancement by an additional 14 services with effect from May 2026 has taken the total AC local services on Central Railway to 108.

Dr. Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer, Central Railway said, “The sustained occupancy across all months of 2026, peaking in March and May, shows the increasing demand for AC locals. The introduction of additional services and expansion to new sections has been well received by commuters seeking safe, fast, and comfortable travel.”

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