A major aviation project is taking shape on India’s western coast, with plans underway to build the country’s first offshore airport near Vadhavan Port on the Arabian Sea. The project is estimated to cost ₹45,000 crore and is designed to handle up to 90 million passengers every year.
The proposed airport is expected to strengthen air travel capacity in the Mumbai region and improve links between air and sea trade routes in western India. It will complement existing facilities, including Mumbai’s main airport and the newly operational Navi Mumbai Airport, which together handle heavy passenger traffic from airlines such as IndiGo and Air India.
A pre-feasibility study commissioned by the Maharashtra Airport Development Company Ltd is nearing completion. The report highlights the project’s role in multimodal transport integration and its importance to regional connectivity.
The airport will be built entirely on reclaimed land off the coast of Palghar district, making it India’s first offshore aviation hub. Of the total ₹45,000 crore cost, around ₹25,000 crore is expected to be spent on land reclamation. The remaining amount will be used for terminals, runways, and airside and landside facilities.
Once completed, the airport will feature 2 parallel runways and will support both domestic and international operations. In addition to passenger services, it is planned as a major cargo hub with the ability to handle about 3 million metric tonnes of freight each year.
Strong transport links are proposed to support access and movement. A direct road connection to the Vadodara–Mumbai Expressway is planned, along with a dedicated metro link to the Western Railway network. The airport is also expected to connect with the Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor.
Further connectivity will come through the proposed Uttan–Virar Sea Link, an 8-lane corridor linking the Mumbai Metropolitan Region with the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway. These links are aimed at improving both passenger travel and freight movement.
The offshore airport is closely tied to the development of Vadhavan Port, a deep-draft facility expected to expand India’s container handling capacity. Together, the port and airport are planned as part of a broader effort to strengthen air, sea, rail, and road connectivity under the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor.
With a projected capacity of 90 million passengers and large cargo handling ability, the Vadhavan offshore airport could become one of India’s largest aviation hubs and a key driver of regional growth.
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