Prime Minister Narendra Modi began a two-day visit to Maharashtra on October 8. He arrived in Navi Mumbai in the afternoon and, at around 3:30 PM, inspectd the newly built Navi Mumbai International Airport before inaugurating it and other key infrastructure projects across Mumbai.
PM Modi will inaugurate Phase 1 of Navi Mumbai International Airport, built at an estimated cost of ₹19,650 crore. As India’s largest Greenfield airport project, it marks a major step in expanding the region’s aviation infrastructure and modernising Mumbai’s air connectivity.
Navi Mumbai International Airport, India’s second airport for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), will ease congestion at Mumbai’s main airport. Spread over 1,160 hectares, it features an Automated People Mover, Sustainable Aviation Fuel storage, 47 MW solar power, EV bus services, and India’s first Water Taxi connectivity for passengers.
Prime Minister Modi will also inaugurate Phase 2B of Mumbai Metro Line 3, linking Acharya Atre Chowk to Cuffe Parade, built at a cost of ₹12,200 crore. This completes the fully underground Aqua Line, costing over ₹37,270 crore, offering modern, faster, and efficient transit for millions across the MMR.
Mumbai Metro Line 3 spans 33.5 km with 27 stations, catering to 13 lakh daily passengers. It provides direct access to South Mumbai’s cultural districts, heritage sites, financial hubs, and integrates with railways, monorail, metro lines, and airports, ensuring seamless last-mile connectivity for commuters.
Meanwhile, Modi will also launch “Mumbai One,” an integrated common mobility app linking 11 public transport operators, including Mumbai Metro, Monorail, Suburban Railway, BEST, Navi Mumbai Metro, and Thane transport services, enabling commuters to access all transport modes conveniently through a single digital platform.
PM Modi will also launch the Short-Term Employability Program (STEP), a key initiative by Maharashtra’s Department of Skill, Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation. The program will roll out across 400 Government ITIs and 150 Technical High Schools, aiming to enhance employ-ability by aligning skills with industry needs.
STEP will create 2,500 new training batches, including 364 exclusively for women. It will also introduce 408 batches in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Electric Vehicles (EV), Solar, and Additive Manufacturing, providing youth with skills tailored to future industry demands.
On the other hand, PM Modi will host UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in Mumbai on 9 October. They will attend the CEO Forum at Jio World Centre and the 6th Global Fintech Fest, reviewing progress under the India–UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership aligned with Vision 2035 across trade, technology, defence, and people-to-people ties.
