During the reframe of the Maharashtra Budget, Ajit Pawar provided an update, stating that the Navi Mumbai airport is scheduled to become operational by...

Maharashtra Dy CM Ajit Pawar along with Cabinet Minister for Ministry of Education and Ministry of Marathi Deepak Kesarkar arrives to present the State Budget 2024-25 in the Assembly, at Vidhan Bhavan, in Mumbai, Tuesday, Feb. 27,

Maharashtra Finance Minister Ajit Pawar announced during the presentation of the state budget 2024-25 that the initial phase of the Navi Mumbai airport is set to become operational by March 2025. He also disclosed plans for a new MSME policy and outlined various initiatives such as providing tap water connections to around 1.47 crore households under the Jal Jeevan Mission and offering housing for approximately 34,400 Divyang individuals through the Housing for All Scheme.

Furthermore, the government aims to establish Maharashtra Bhavans in Ayodhya and Srinagar, allocating ₹77 Crore for land acquisition in these locations. Other proposed measures include doubling the pension for freedom fighters, as well as erecting memorials in honor of notable figures like Ahilyabai Holkar, Jyotiba Phule, and Lahuji Salve.

Regarding the Navi Mumbai airport, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia previously stated that commercial operations are slated to commence by March 31, 2025, with significant progress reported on the project. The airport, managed by the Adani Group, is designed in five phases with a total capacity of accommodating 9 crore passengers annually. The initial phases will handle 2 crore passengers, featuring advanced infrastructure such as automated passenger movement and a focus on environmental sustainability.

Future expansions include additional runways and terminals, ultimately resulting in four terminals and two runways upon completion of all five phases. The airport will be strategically connected by road, rail, and metro networks to ensure seamless accessibility for travelers.