
Police deployed at the site ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech during the inauguration of Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), scheduled for October 8, 2025, in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to meet U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Mumbai on Thursday (October 9, 2025) during his two-day visit to Maharashtra, and also inaugurate a couple of projects, including Navi Mumbai Airport and Mumbai Metro-3, on Wednesday (October 8, 2025).
Mr. Modi will host the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, in Mumbai and attend the CEO Forum at Jio World Centre, Mumbai. Thereafter, both leaders will attend the sixth edition of the Global Fintech Fest.
“During the visit, the two Prime Ministers will take stock of progress in diverse aspects of the India-U.K. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in line with ‘Vision 2035’, a focussed and time bound 10-year Roadmap of programmes and initiatives in key pillars of trade and investment, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate and energy, health, education and people to people relations,” as per the Statement by Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
The leaders are likely to engage with businesses and industry leaders on opportunities presented by the India–U.K. Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) as a central pillar of the future India–U.K. economic partnership.
Global Fintech Fest 2025, the convention will feature participation from around 7,500 companies, 800 speakers (industry leaders), 400 exhibitors, and 70 regulators representing both Indian and international jurisdictions. The conference’s central theme, ‘Empowering Finance for a Better World’ – Powered by AI, Augmented Intelligence, Innovation, and Inclusion, highlights the convergence of technology and human insight in shaping an ethical and sustainable financial future. The convention also looks forward to attracting a footfall of over 100,000 participants from more than 75 countries.
Inauguration of Navi Mumbai Airport and other projects
Prime Minister Modi is all set to inaugurate Phase 1 of Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), built at a cost of around ₹19,650 crores, Mumbai’s first fully underground Mumbai Metro Line-3, Phase 2B, Mumbai One App Mobility App, and the Short-Term Employability Program (STEP), an initiative by the Department of Skill.
In pictures | Inside Navi Mumbai International Airport
The phase 1 of Navi Mumbai International Airport is India’s largest Greenfield airport project, developed under a Public–Private Partnership (PPP).
Photo: Special Arrangement
The airport is said to be well connected as it is 14 km from Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) Sea Port, 22 km from Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), 32 km from Thane, and 40 km from Bhiwandi. Photo: Special Arrangement
The architecture inspired by lotus, has 12 sculptural feature columns — anchors that rise like unfurling petals, 17 mega columns — unseen pillars carrying the weight of the lotus roof canopies. Photo: Special Arrangement
In line with sustainable practices, the airport will feature dedicated storage for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), solar power generation of approximately 47 MW, and EV bus services for public connectivity across the city. NMIA will also be the first airport in the country to be connected by Water Taxi. Photo: Special Arrangement
Among its unique offerings is an Automated People Mover (APM), a transit system planned to connect all four passenger terminals for smooth inter-terminal transfers, as well as a landside APM linking the city-side infrastructure.
Photo: Special Arrangement
As the second international airport for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, NMIA will work in tandem with the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to ease congestion and elevate Mumbai into the league of global multi-airport systems.
Photo: Special Arrangement
The airport, designed to be among the most efficient in the world with 1160 Ha area, will eventually handle 90 million passengers annually (MPPA) and 3.25 million metric tonnes of cargo.
Photo: Special Arrangement
The netted structures of the lotus pillars, designed by London-based Zaha Hadid Architects, will provide passive cooling inside the airport.
Photo: Special Arrangement
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His schedule includes a walkthrough of the newly built Navi Mumbai International Airport and launching several other projects in Mumbai. According to PMO, NMIA is India’s largest Greenfield airport project, spread across 1160 Ha area, with a capacity to handle 90 million passengers annually and 3.25 million metric tonnes of cargo, offering an Automated People Mover (APM), a transit system planned to connect all four passenger terminals for smooth inter-terminal transfers.

The Phase 2B stretching from Acharya Atre Chowk to Cuffe Parade is part of the Mumbai Metro Line–3, spanning 33.5 km from Cuffe Parade to Aarey JVLR with 27 stations, aiming to cater to 13 lakh passengers daily. The total cost of the project is over ₹37,270 crore. It connects South Mumbai’s cultural areas, such as Fort, Kala Ghoda, and Marine Drive, and financial hubs like the Bombay High Court, Mantralaya, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), and Nariman Point.
Published – October 08, 2025 10:17 am IST