ગુજરાતી
English
Adani’s airport construction violates numerous laws
Compiled by Dilip Patel
Ahmedabad, October 9, 2015
The controversies surrounding the construction of Adani Airport in Navi Mumbai, including violations of laws, environmental damage, demolition of homes belonging to poor families, and the demolition of temples and mosques, have shocked the people of the country.
The cost of the airport’s construction has increased by 350 percent. To benefit Adani Airport, the Maharashtra government and the central BJP government have built eight expensive projects at the public’s expense. These details are so shocking that the government has violated laws and expenditures to build an airport for the wealthy.
Navi Mumbai International Airport Limited (NMIAL) is being developed. This entity comprises Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL) and the Maharashtra Municipal and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO).
Adani’s airport is being connected to national highways, suburban railways, the metro, bullet trains, and water transport networks via sea taxis. Plans for 120 high-rise buildings were approved even before the airport’s construction, yielding substantial profits for the builders.
There was widespread opposition to the demolition of poor people’s homes, the seizure of farmers’ land, and the use of blasting to break hills. This delayed the airport’s opening.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, along with Jeet Adani of the Adani Group, visited Navi Mumbai International Airport. Commercial flights were scheduled to begin on September 30, 2025, but this was delayed due to public opposition.
Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone for this airport, which boasts the world’s fastest baggage handling system, in February 2018. It is being built at a cost of ₹16,700 crore.
Old Airport Closed
There was controversy over the transfer of flights from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to Navi Mumbai International Airport.
Both airports are owned by Adani Airport Holdings Limited. AAHL decided to transfer some flights from CSMIA to NMI. The International Air Transport Association, the body representing airlines, expressed concern over this decision.
Renovation Fault
CSMIA Terminal 1 was demolished for renovation. This was to benefit Adani’s second airport, which was to be decommissioned until 2028. Therefore, some flights will be transferred to CSMIA Terminal 2, while others will be transferred to NMI, which some airlines opposed.
CSMIA Terminal 1 has a capacity of 15 million passengers per year. The decision to transfer all passengers to Navi Mumbai Airport sparked a major controversy.
With a capacity of 15 million passengers per year, which is undergoing renovation, 10 mppa will be shifted to NMI and 5 mppa to CSMIA’s T2. Renovation of T1 is expected to be completed by September 2028, after which its capacity will increase to 20 mppa.
Clarification was sought on the aircraft relocation. An airline official stated that no other plans have been made to mitigate the impact.
The BJP government in Maharashtra and the Modi government in Kanjra have left no stone unturned to ensure that wealthy travelers use Adani’s Navi Mumbai Airport.
Basement
In October 2025, the Mumbai government decided to build a tunnel, potentially generating huge profits for Adani.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced the construction of a tunnel to connect the airport to Mumbai. He has asked to investigate whether a tunnel can be built from the Sea Link, BKC, to Navi Mumbai Airport.
Navi Mumbai Airport is Mumbai’s second international airport. This tunnel will be built to handle 20 million passengers annually. Its design is being prepared.
New Road Construction
A new road is being constructed from Atal Setu to Coastal Road to improve connectivity.
Water Taxi
Water taxi service will be introduced to provide additional amenities to passengers. This will also significantly benefit the airport.
New Tax Increase
Mumbai Airport has proposed an increase in user development tax or fees and other aviation charges in the financial year 2030. Domestic passengers at Mumbai Airport are not charged user development tax, but now the operator will have to pay ₹325 per domestic passenger.
The airport will charge a user development tax of ₹187 to ₹650.
Bullet Train Benefits
Narendra Modi has given Adani’s new airport a major advantage by providing a direct bullet train connection. The country’s first bullet train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad is running through Thane and the Mumbai suburbs.
It will connect directly to Mumbai via the Atal Setu, or Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link.
Metro Benefits for Adani
The proposed Metro Line 8, the Gold Line, will connect Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, and Navi Mumbai International Airport.
Benefits of the Hyderabad Bullet Train
Under the Mumbai-Hyderabad Bullet Train project, there will be an underground station at Navi Mumbai International Airport. This will also provide easy access to Navi Mumbai Airport for passengers on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train.
will be accessible.
Benefits of Water Taxi
Navi Mumbai International Airport will be the country’s first water transport airport. It will be directly connected to Mumbai and surrounding coastal areas by water taxis. Thane, Kalyan, Bhiwandi, Dombivali, and several areas in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region are connected by the Mumbai Intercity.
Will be connected to the national airport.
Court Case
The social organization Prakashjot filed a public interest litigation in the Bombay High Court challenging the central government’s inaction.
Disrespect of the Legislative Assembly
The organization’s president, Vikas Patil, says that the resolution unanimously passed by the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly has been disrespected.
Demolition of Dargahs and Temples
The Urban and Industrial Development Corporation demolished an illegal dargah near the Navi Mumbai International Airport. The structure was demolished on court orders. Hindu organizations argued that unauthorized dargahs posed a security threat to the area around the airport.
No work has been done to replace the temples destroyed by the airport. CIDCO had expressed its commitment to allocate suitable land for the relocation of ten old temples.
Naming Movement
The new Mumbai airport is embroiled in a naming controversy even before its inauguration.
Local leaders and Mumbaikars say the airport should be named after D.B. Patil. If this is not done, protests are likely to intensify.
The All-Party Working Committee met in Vashi and urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to immediately resolve the issue.
BJP leader Kapil Patil demanded that the name be finalized before the first flight takes off.
It is not just a name, but a respect for our rights and sacrifices. Naming the airport after D.B. Patil will commemorate his contributions.
Bhiwandi MP Mhatre has warned that no flights will be able to take off until the airport bears D.B. Patil’s name. BJP MLA Prashant Thakur from Panvel has expressed his support.
Local residents and organizations say that Diba Patil made the project possible by donating her land, so the airport should be named after her.
Those rallying for D.B. Patil had previously suggested the name Bal Thackeray.
The inauguration should not be allowed.
The sons of the soil have clearly warned that if the airport is not named after the late public leader Diba Patil, the airport’s inauguration will be stopped at all costs. Thus, a direct protest against Modi.
The sons of the soil have announced a massive protest on October 6, 2025.
MP Suresh Mhatre chaired the meeting and said that the sons of the soil’s demands are legitimate and everyone should unite to achieve them.
Diba Patil fought for the rights of farmers and local people. Her name is linked to the identity and history of Navi Mumbai. This is why people are not willing to accept any other name.
The central government has not taken any decision. The state government rejected a proposal to name the airport after D.B. Patil.
In one of the largest protests in recent times, approximately 50,000 Navi Mumbai residents gheraoed the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) headquarters in Belapur on June 24, 2021.
Located 24 km from the existing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Sahar, CIDCO is the nodal authority for the airport.
The Mumbai International Airport was wanted to be named after the late socialist leader D.B. Patil. A Navi Mumbai International Airport Naming Committee was formed.
This demand was made by the landowners whose land is being used to build Mumbai’s second international airport.
The Maharashtra government wanted to name the airport after Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.
People affected by the project threatened to stop its construction. CIDCO falls under the Urban Development Department, headed by Shiv Sena minister Eknath Shinde.
Shinde had asked CIDCO to submit a proposal to name the airport after Thackeray in December 2020. The state cabinet also decided to approve the proposal.
Who was D. Ba.?
The Maharashtra government began developing a satellite city on 193 square kilometers of land comprising 86 villages at Vashi Port in the late 1960s to ease pressure on Mumbai.
CIDCO began acquiring land for the construction of the new city, which came to be known as Navi Mumbai, in 1971. At the time, D. Ba. Dinkar Balu Patil, also known as Patil, was a Bharatiya Janata Party leader and MLA from Panvel, Raigad. He mobilized landowners, primarily farmers, against the minimal compensation offered by the government for acquiring land for Navi Mumbai’s construction.
Patil launched a major movement and protests demanding fair compensation. In 1984, five farmers were killed in violence during one such protest in Patil’s village, Jasai. By this time, Navi Mumbai was beginning to take shape. Its three centers—Vashi, Nerul, and Belapur—transformed into urban areas with residential, commercial, and government buildings.
Finally, due to Patil’s movement, the government agreed to return 12.5 percent of the developed land to the original owners in 1984. Since then, Navi Mumbai has been developing rapidly. Today, it is 35
It is the world’s largest planned city, with a population of 100 million.
Most of the original owners sold 12.5 percent of the developed land to commercial entities and real estate developers, earning them crores of rupees. The NMMC, the second richest civic body after Mumbai, has an annual budget of ₹4,825 crore for 2021-22 and ₹6,000 crore in 2025. The corporation was a stronghold of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by local leader Ganesh Naik until 2019. He then joined the BJP.
Why the Airport?
The New Mumbai Airport was first conceived in 1997 as an alternative to the Mumbai airport. The project was approved by Manmohan Singh’s Union Ministry of Environment and Forests on November 23, 2010. CIDCO first invited global tenders in 2014 when Modi became Prime Minister. Finalization of bids was delayed for three years.
The GVK Group won the contract in 2017. It offered CIDCO a 12.6 percent share in revenue.
The river was to become the new airport.
The airport has been mired in controversy since its inception. Plans to divert the Ulwe River were scrapped after strong opposition from villagers and environmentalists.
Land Dispute
The Bombay High Court cancelled the 2017 acquisition of several plots of agricultural land in Wahal village, Panvel, for the Navi Mumbai International Airport project. Several farmers had filed petitions in the High Court challenging the May 2015 notification and the 2017 acquisition of their land, arguing that it would render them landless.
The farmers alleged the acquisition was corrupt and flawed. They alleged that officials had not conducted the mandatory due diligence process under the Land Acquisition Act and had shown no urgency to avoid a hearing. The acquisition was cancelled because there was no urgency.
The farmers were represented by Advocate Sachin Punde, CIDCO by Pinky Bhansali, Senior Advocate G.S. Hegde by Senior Advocate, and Senior Advocate Atul Damle by mediator.
They had applied for rehabilitation through alternative land allocation, with a 20% reduction in the compensation payable.
The airport’s core area covers 1,160 hectares. The airport’s total area is 2,268 hectares. Three plots have been allocated for rehabilitation and resettlement of the affected villagers.
The public hearing was boycotted due to fears of land seizure. Black flags were waved outside the meeting. The hearing ended within an hour.
Houses Demolished
In January 2019, 2,200 of the 2,786 houses adjacent to the Navi Mumbai airport were evacuated on the last day of the deadline and subsequently demolished.
The Maharashtra Municipal and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) anti-encroachment team has begun demolishing alleged illegal colonies in Panvel, built on 32 acres of land within the core area of the Navi Mumbai International Airport.
The airport had demanded compensation before starting work. The airport’s core area spans 1,160 hectares. Three areas have been designated for commercial development and hotels, bringing the airport’s total area to 2,268 hectares.
Three plots have also been allocated for rehabilitation and resettlement of those affected by the project. Approximately 3,500 people from 10 villages have been displaced.
In November 2017, 1,000 residents of Targhar, Pargaon, Ulwe, Kolhi, Kopar, Ganesh Puri, Chinchpada, Dungi, and Manghar villages protested demanding adequate compensation and rehabilitation. They were paid ₹1,000 per square foot.
Protests halted airport construction. Residents of Waghivali village protested for 38 days.
In August 2020, the Adani Group acquired GVK’s stake in the airport.
In November 2017, two thousand residents of Targhar, Pargaon, Ulwe, Kolhi, Kopar, Ganesh Puri, Chinchpada, Dungi, and Manghar villages gathered to demand proper compensation and rehabilitation from CIDCO in exchange for vacating their land and homes for the airport project. The villagers also objected to unnecessary land acquisition, which had halted pre-construction work at the airport site.
Residents displaced for the Navi Mumbai airport are facing the loss of their homes, communities, land, and livelihoods. They have long struggled for proper rehabilitation.
Schools, utilities, streetlights, roads, and crematoriums have not yet been developed.
They alleged that CIDCO destroyed records proving ownership of their land.
River Diversion
The north-south Ulwe River will be diverted 90°, and the Ghadi River, which flows along the northern border, will also be diverted.
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and studies on the river diversion and diversion were not made public, so there was nothing to report.
Explosions
Hills were demolished with explosives to make way for the airport runway. The height of the largest hill, Ulwe Hill, was reduced from 90 meters to 10 meters. Residents reported injuries and tremors from the explosions. The explosion, which occurred about 100 meters from people’s homes, sent rocks flying up to 200 meters, including a nearby school. The explosions in Ulwe village caused cracks in the walls of houses, leading some to fear their homes might collapse.
Five engineers were injured. The explosions triggered a landslide. Villagers in Siddharth Nagar were also injured. Five women were injured when rocks fell from the roof. A seven-year-old child needed two stitches on his head.
Chera trees
The land is marshy and flood-prone, and large areas are often submerged, especially during the monsoon season. Building an airstrip on reclaimed land, mudflats, and mangroves is considered too unstable.
The state has spent a lot of money on pre-construction earthwork and land leveling.
The coastline is fragile.
The contract for the construction and operation of the airport has been awarded to GVK, an Indian company with interests in energy, resources, transportation, and other sectors.
The project was approved.
By 2017, CIDCO’s project cost estimate had more than tripled, from US$753 million to US$2.5 billion.
Changes in the Law
Laws and regulations related to mangrove forests at the airport site were removed in 2009. The Coastal Regulation Zone Directive, which ensured strict restrictions on construction, was amended to allow the conversion of mangrove forests into airports. Removing mangroves for concrete and asphalt will disrupt the water balance in the area. Mangroves are a natural buffer between land and sea, with intertwined roots that prevent coastal erosion and absorb rainfall and tides. Removing mangroves for the airport could make the surrounding area more vulnerable to flooding.
Land was allocated for mangrove cultivation in Dahuna, approximately 200 kilometers from the airport site. When this was opposed, the site was relocated to the airport. A study of wetland bird habitats was conducted by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). The study highlighted conflicts between airport operations and birds. Mangrove parks located on the periphery of aircraft takeoff and landing areas can pose a very serious threat to aviation.
Mangroves are an attractive habitat for many bird species, so mangrove sanctuaries are at risk of bird strikes or collisions with aircraft, which can lead to fatal accidents.
In 2015, the National Board for Wildlife Environment, Forest and Climate Change withdrew the requirement for a mangrove sanctuary as part of the project.
Benefits from the Bridge
Construction of India’s longest bridge, the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL), was expedited to ensure it was completed on time to connect Navi Mumbai Airport. Built over the Mumbai Bay, this new six-lane, 22-kilometer-long bridge will connect the mainland to Sewri, located on the eastern coast of South Mumbai. Like the airport, the bridge is also destroying bird habitat.
The dam, stretching 5 kilometers along the coastline, threatens 20,000 flamingos and 38 hectares of previously protected mangroves, while also destroying 8.8 hectares of protected forest on the Navi Mumbai side.
Expensive Construction
The mandatory environmental, rehabilitation, and design changes have led to a significant cost increase of 350 percent. Citizens will pay for this directly through tolls and indirectly through various taxes.
Illegal Buildings Erected
The Airports Authority of India’s decision to reduce the height limit for buildings around Mumbai International Airport is illegal and violates the law.
The construction of the buildings was approved before the airport was even constructed. While the airport was still under construction, the buildings were being constructed first.
123 applications were received for obtaining No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for the construction of buildings exceeding 55.10 meters in height. NOCs were granted to 104 buildings, and applications for 19 buildings were pending.
The rules allow the construction of buildings taller than 55.10 meters within a 20-kilometer radius of the airport. (Based on Mumbai press reports) (Google translation from Gujarati)
