The City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO) has appointed a joint venture (JV) of RITES Limited and Creative Group LLP to conduct a techno-commercial feasibility study for a proposed third runway at the Navi Mumbai International Airport, according to an official statement.
The study, which is expected to be completed within six months, comes amid projections of sustained growth in air traffic demand across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). CIDCO said the exercise will evaluate whether additional runway capacity will be required in the long term.
Meeting reviews scope of feasibility study
CIDCO stated that a review meeting on April 15, chaired by its Vice Chairman and Managing Director Vijay Singhal, discussed key aspects of the proposed study. Senior officials from CIDCO, along with representatives from RITES and Creative Group, were present.
According to CIDCO, the study will examine multiple parameters, including technical feasibility, operational efficiency, environmental impact, and financial viability. The findings are expected to inform future infrastructure planning decisions at the airport.
Capacity planning amid rising passenger projections
The Navi Mumbai airport is being developed as part of a dual-airport system with the existing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to cater to the region’s aviation demand. CIDCO noted that NMIA is designed as a greenfield facility with an ultimate capacity of 90 million passengers per annum (MPPA) and 3.2 million tonnes of cargo.
Spread over about 1,160 hectares, the airport is planned with two parallel runways and multiple terminals to be developed in phases over the next decade.
However, CIDCO cited projections indicating that combined passenger traffic demand in the MMR could reach around 150 MPPA by 2040, and potentially rise to 240 MPPA between 2047 and 2050. While a third airport has been proposed at Vadhavan Airport, the agency said it is also examining expansion options at NMIA to address future demand.
Consultant’s role and expertise
CIDCO said the appointed joint venture brings prior experience in transport and airport infrastructure planning. RITES, a public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Railways, has worked on several infrastructure consultancy projects, including airport planning and design. Creative Group LLP has also been involved in aviation and infrastructure consultancy assignments.
The feasibility study will assess whether a third runway at NMIA is technically and economically viable, and how it could enhance operational capacity if implemented. CIDCO added that the move is part of broader planning efforts to strengthen aviation infrastructure in the Mumbai region over the coming decades.
