Mumbai Airport News: MADC Advances India’s First Offshore Airport Project
Mumbai Airport News
The Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) has started the next phase of planning for a proposed greenfield offshore international airport at Kore in Palghar district. The airport is being planned as a major new aviation facility for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and could become an important part of the region’s future transport infrastructure.
MADC has invited bids to appoint a consultant for preparing a detailed techno-economic feasibility study for the proposed airport. The selected consultant will also be responsible for helping manage the bidding process for the project. According to the available information, the bids are scheduled to be opened on September 3, 2026.
The latest move follows a preliminary feasibility study that identified the Kore site, near Vadhavan, as the most suitable location for the proposed airport. The decision to move ahead with a detailed feasibility study is an important step because the report will help authorities examine the technical and economic viability of the project in greater detail.
The proposed airport is expected to strengthen Mumbai’s aviation infrastructure and provide additional capacity for the growing air travel needs of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. As passenger and cargo traffic increases, new airport infrastructure can help support long-term connectivity and economic development.
The project also has a strong focus on road and transport connectivity. During a review of infrastructure projects along Maharashtra’s western corridor on June 28, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the proposed airport would have a direct connection with Mumbai through a 4.75-km extension of the Uttan-Virar Sea Link.
This planned connection is expected to make it easier for passengers and businesses to reach the airport from Mumbai and other parts of the metropolitan region. The airport will also have a connector to the Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway and the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway (NH 48).
Another major feature of the proposed project is its planned connection with the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC). This connectivity could be important for cargo movement and logistics, particularly for businesses that depend on fast transportation of goods.
The detailed techno-economic feasibility study will be an important stage in deciding how the airport project can move forward. The appointed consultant will examine the project and help authorities assess its feasibility before the bidding process progresses further.
The proposed airport at Kore is therefore entering a significant planning stage. With MADC now seeking expert assistance for the feasibility study and bid process, the project is moving closer to detailed evaluation.
If developed as planned, the airport could improve connectivity across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, strengthen links with major highways and freight infrastructure, and support the region’s long-term aviation and economic requirements. However, further decisions will depend on the findings of the detailed feasibility study and subsequent project approvals.
Ajeet Yadav is an aviation enthusiast covering airline news, airports, aircraft, and industry developments through well-researched and reliable reporting.
