Navi Mumbai: In light of rising air traffic in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Cidco has appointed a joint venture of RITES Ltd and Creative Group LLP to conduct a techno-commercial feasibility study for developing a third runway at Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). The study is targeted for completion within six months and will evaluate the technical, operational, environmental and financial viability of expanding runway capacity at NMIA.A review meeting on Wednesday was chaired by Vijay Singhal, vice-chairman and managing director of Cidco, to discuss key elements of the assignment. Senior officials included Geetha Pillai, chief general manager, transport and aviation, and Bindhu Murlidharan, additional chief transportation engineer, represented Cidco. RITES was represented by Anil Aswani, general manager, airport division, while Creative Group was represented by Gurpreet Singh Shah, managing director and partner.“Navi Mumbai International Airport has been envisioned as a world-class aviation hub to meet the long-term needs of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. With air traffic expected to grow significantly in the coming decades, it is imperative to plan ahead. The appointment of the consultant for this feasibility study reflects Cidco’s proactive approach towards future-ready infrastructure. The proposed third runway will be a crucial step in enhancing capacity, efficiency and positioning NMIA as a key global gateway,” said Vijay Singhal.Cidco stated that NMIA is being developed as a long-term, world-class aviation hub and that forward planning is essential as demand is expected to grow sharply over the coming decades. The proposed third runway is intended to strengthen capacity, improve operational efficiency and reinforce NMIA’s role as a major global gateway for the region. NMIA, the second international airport serving the MMR, operates as part of a dual-airport system alongside Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.NMIA is among India’s largest greenfield airport developments, planned to handle 90 million passengers per annum and 3.2 million tonnes of cargo annually at full build-out. The airport spans about 1,160 hectares and is designed with two parallel independent runways enabling simultaneous operations, supported by four terminals to be developed in phases over the next decade.With the MMR population exceeding 20 million, combined demand is projected to reach about 150 million passengers per annum by 2040, aligned with the planned capacities of CSMIA at 60 and NMIA at 90. Longer-range forecasts indicate demand could rise to around 240 million passengers per annum by 2047 to 2050. While a third airport is proposed at Vadhavan, Cidco is also exploring expansion at NMIA to meet future requirements.RITES, a Navratna and Schedule ‘A’ central public sector enterprise under the ministry of railways, brings extensive transport infrastructure consultancy experience, including greenfield airport planning, demand assessment and system design.
