Maharashtra is moving ahead with plans to develop India’s 1st offshore airport, with the state government ordering a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed project off the state’s western coast.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has also directed officials to study the extension of the Uttan-Virar Sea Link to provide direct connectivity to the airport site.
The proposed airport is planned near Kore Beach in Palghar district and is designed to handle around 90 million passengers annually. Built on reclaimed land or artificial islands in the sea, the offshore airport model has already been adopted by countries including Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea to overcome land constraints and expand aviation capacity.
The project is expected to become a key part of a larger infrastructure ecosystem alongside the proposed Vadhavan Port, high-speed rail and new road connectivity. Together, these developments could reshape the economic landscape of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) by attracting investment and creating a new growth corridor north of Mumbai.
According to Shravan Nawany, Director of Nawany Group, recent initiatives by CIDCO, MMRDA and the Maharashtra government have strengthened confidence in the long-term growth potential of the region. He noted that CIDCO has invited bids for more than 126 acres of industrial land linked to the Vadhavan Port project, while MMRDA has been appointed as the Special Planning Authority for 446 villages across Palghar and Raigad.
The proposed Vadhavan Port is projected to generate around 10 lakh jobs across logistics, shipping, freight and related industries, creating demand for housing, commercial spaces and supporting infrastructure. Nawany believes Vasai-Virar and Palghar are well positioned to accommodate this growth due to their available land and strategic location.
He also pointed to the Navi Mumbai International Airport as an example of how infrastructure projects can drive property appreciation well before becoming operational. According to him, the proposed offshore airport could create a similar investment cycle, especially with its location near Virar and the planned extension of the Uttan-Virar Sea Link.
While the project remains at the DPR stage and awaits multiple approvals, it signals Maharashtra’s intent to develop another major aviation hub beyond Mumbai.
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