23 December,2025 07:13 PM IST | Mumbai | Madhulika Ram Kavattur
Aerial view of the Navi Mumbai Airport, which is set to begin commercial operations on December 25. Pic/By Special Arrangement
The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) is set to begin commercial operations on December 25, offering a major connectivity boost to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. While the airport is planned as a multi-modal hub with future rail, Metro, road and waterway links, only limited transport options will be available to the public in the initial phase. At present, access to the airport will be primarily through roads, suburban rail and buses.
Passengers travelling from Mumbai to NMIA currently have two main road options: the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, also known as Atal Setu, and the Vashi Bridge. While both routes attract toll charges, Atal Setu is more expensive than the Vashi Bridge. However, both are expected to be preferred by flyers, particularly those travelling to the airport occasionally. Officials indicated that toll charges may be revised once airport operations scale up.
Streetlights yet to be installed on the approach road leading to the Navi Mumbai International Airport
The distance between the Vashi Bridge and NMIA is approximately 16 km and can take around 24 minutes during low traffic conditions. The distance between Atal Setu and NMIA is about 13 km and can take roughly 17 minutes with minimal traffic.
Until early December, CBD Belapur was the closest railway station to NMIA. With the recent opening of Targhar railway station, it has now become the nearest rail access point, located around 10 to 15 minutes away from the airport using last-mile transport. However, train frequency at Targhar remains limited. At present, only around 12 trains operate daily between Targhar and Nerul, with gaps of nearly an hour. Services towards Belapur are also limited, with 13 trains running daily at intervals of over 30 minutes.
Trains on the Targhar to Uran route are relatively more frequent, with about 25 services daily. During peak morning and evening hours, trains run every 30 minutes, while afternoon services are spaced an hour apart. Commuters planning to use the railway option will need to plan carefully, as train schedules for Targhar are not yet visible on popular apps such as M-Indicator, which many daily commuters rely on.
An unlit stretch of the airport approach road. Pics/Madhulika Ram Kavattur
While passenger footfall from flyers is currently low, railway officials expect increased usage from airport staff. A CIDCO official stationed at Targhar railway station said that most commuters currently using the station are employees working at the airport site. "During morning hours and around 5 pm, we see more than 200 people at the station. At other times, it is relatively quiet," the official said.
Ticketing staff at the station said train frequency is likely to improve once passenger numbers increase after December 25. "Once railway authorities see higher demand, the frequency will be increased. This will become a viable daily transport option for locals who may not want to rely on autos or cabs," a staff member said.
Auto driver Anil Sonawane said passengers currently avoid Targhar due to long waiting times. "People only come if their timing matches the train. Otherwise, they have to wait nearly an hour, which discourages them," he said.
Signage for taxi, auto-rickshaw and bus stands has been installed along the airport's approach roads. However, local drivers said they are still unclear about the exact locations of these stands inside the airport premises.
"We will only know on December 25. Till then, we will be going in blind," Sonawne said. "We understand that access is restricted before operations begin, but we are hopeful that passenger movement will increase from day one." The Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) is in advanced discussions with airport authorities to roll out electric buses.
An official said the initial plan is to deploy around 50 electric buses to cater to passengers and airport staff travelling from Navi Mumbai and adjoining areas. "This is just the beginning. As passenger footfall at NMIA increases, additional buses will be inducted in a phased manner," an official said.
Sources further said that after January 26, NMMT will closely monitor ridership trends and deploy more electric buses accordingly to service the airport. The move is aimed at positioning public transport as the primary mode of access to NMIA from the outset. Officials added that the initiative also supports sustainability goals and seeks to reduce dependence on private vehicles as airport operations scale up.
As reported earlier by mid-day, streetlights along the airport's approach roads are yet to be installed. Local vendors say the absence of lighting is a safety concern.
