The Maharashtra government has proposed a new way to rebuild Terminal 1 at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
It wants the work done in phases. This would avoid moving flights to the new Navi Mumbai International Airport.
Under the plan, Terminal 1B would be rebuilt first. Only after that would the older Terminal 1A be demolished.
Flights could then move from one terminal to the other without a break.
Key points
- Maharashtra wants Terminal 1 at Mumbai airport rebuilt in phases.
- The plan would avoid moving international flights to Navi Mumbai.
- The state has sent its proposal to the Union civil aviation ministry.
- The Centre is yet to approve the plan.
Why did the row start in the first place?
The row began when Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) announced that international flights to 14 destinations would shift to Navi Mumbai.
MIAL is 74 per cent owned by Adani Airport Holdings Ltd, which runs both airports.
The move was planned to make way for rebuilding the old terminal.
Flights from Kuwait, Kathmandu, Riyadh, Doha, Dhaka and Bahrain were among those to be moved, starting with the summer schedule in March 2027.
So why does this matter for travellers?
Moving these flights would affect about 5 million passengers. That is nearly 9 per cent of the airport's yearly traffic.
Several international airlines had opposed the move.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) had suggested rebuilding Terminal 1 in phases.
This would avoid a loss of passenger-handling capacity.
MIAL says some international flights at Terminal 2 would still need to be cut for a short time during the work.
What happens next with the plan?
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said the state had presented the alternative plan to the Union civil aviation ministry.
A state government official said the ministry responded positively and held a meeting soon after getting the letter.
Terminal 1 is planned to be demolished by March 2028. The new facility is expected by December 2030.
- March 2027Summer schedule starts, and some international flights move to Navi Mumbai
- March 2028Terminal 1 is planned to be demolished
- December 2030The new facility is expected to be ready
Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report
Sources have raised concern that a phased plan could delay work and raise costs.
MIAL and Adani Airport Holdings did not respond to requests for comment.
Explainer
What happened before
- Mumbai airport's Terminal 1 was opened in 1964 and has structural and safety concerns.
- The airport operator wants about 14 international destinations moved to Navi Mumbai from March 2027.
- Several international airlines opposed the move and suggested a phased rebuild instead.
Why it matters
Moving flights would affect about 5 million passengers, nearly 9 per cent of the airport's yearly traffic.
What to watch next
- Terminal 1 is planned to be demolished by March 2028, with the new facility ready by December 2030.
- The state has written to the Union civil aviation ministry and expects the Centre to approve its plan.
