India is planning a landmark infrastructure project in the form of its first offshore airport, proposed near Vadhavan Port on the Maharashtra coast.
The project carries an estimated price tag of around ₹45,000 crore, making it one of the most expensive aviation developments in the country.
India Plans Its First Offshore Airport Near Vadhavan at an Estimated Cost of ₹45,000 Crore
The airport is envisioned as a multi-modal connectivity hub, strengthening links between air, sea, road, and rail networks tied to global trade routes.
The proposed location is off the coast of Palghar district in western Maharashtra, close to the upcoming deep-draft Vadhavan Port.
Unlike conventional airports built on land, this one will be constructed entirely on reclaimed land in the Arabian Sea.
Once operational, the airport is expected to manage passenger traffic of up to 90 million people every year.
This capacity is aimed at reducing the growing burden on existing airports within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Officials associated with the project indicate that land reclamation alone will account for roughly ₹25,000 crore of the total investment.
The remaining funds will be directed toward airport infrastructure, including runways, terminals, and other essential airside and landside facilities.
A pre-feasibility study for the project was commissioned last year by the Maharashtra Airport Development Company.
This study is now nearing completion and highlights both the technical scale and strategic importance of the offshore airport.
Passenger travel is only one part of the airport’s purpose, as it is also being designed as a major air cargo hub.
The cargo facilities are expected to handle up to 3 million metric tonnes of freight annually.
Direct integration with Vadhavan Port will allow faster and more efficient transfer of goods between air and sea transport.
Together, the airport and port are expected to improve access between India’s industrial regions and international markets.
The reclaimed island airport will feature two parallel runways and modern terminal infrastructure to support high volumes and future growth.
More than half of the project’s total cost is expected to be absorbed by the land reclamation process itself.
Vadhavan Offshore Airport to Get Expressway, Rail, and Metro Connectivity
To ensure smooth access, planners have proposed strong road, rail, and metro connectivity to the airport.
These plans include a direct connection to the Vadodara–Mumbai Expressway and metro links with the Western Railway network.
The airport is also proposed to connect with the Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor.
An additional link is planned via the Uttan–Virar Sea Link, an eight-lane corridor connecting the Mumbai Metropolitan Region to the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway.
The airport-port combination at Vadhavan forms part of a wider national logistics and connectivity strategy.
These projects align with initiatives such as the Delhi–Mumbai Industrial Corridor and the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor.
Vadhavan Port’s location on the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor positions it as a strategic maritime gateway.
The port alone is expected to add 23.2 million TEUs to India’s container-handling capacity.
Combined, the offshore airport and deep-draft port are intended to elevate India’s role in global trade, improve logistics efficiency, and support long-term economic growth through world-class infrastructure.
