India advances infrastructure with an offshore airport near Mumbai

India is building an offshore airport near Mumbai called Vadhvan, intending to improve connectivity via high-speed rail and major highways.

India is planning to build its first offshore airport near Mumbai, the country’s financial hub, as part of the central government’s massive infrastructure revamp. The airport will be built on an artificial island near the Vadhvan seaport, around 125 kilometres from the city’s current international airport.

The project, which is identical to Hong Kong International Airport and Osaka’s Kansai International Airport, gained early permissions from the Union Environment and Defence ministries, as well as the Maharashtra government, at a meeting last month. Authorities will shortly perform feasibility studies with the support of the Airports Authority of India, and an anticipated investment amount will be decided.

Vadhvan Airport will be Mumbai’s third airport, and it is intended to greatly boost regional connections. The airport will be linked to the proposed Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train as well as two major highways—Mumbai-New Delhi and Mumbai-Vadodara—to provide passengers with effortless travel.

The new airport is part of India’s larger attempt to address its infrastructure deficit, which is the world’s second greatest behind Brazil. To modernise its transportation network, the country is investing billions in highways, airports, and electricity projects. Other notable projects in Maharashtra include a fully underground metro system, an international cruise terminal, and a 701-kilometre greenfield road linking Mumbai and Nagpur.

Furthermore, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has approved the construction of the ‘Mumbai Eye,’ a massive observation wheel modelled after the London Eye. Last year, the government opened the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, the country’s longest sea bridge, which connects South Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.

Once completed, the Vadhvan seaport would be India’s largest and deepest port, cementing Mumbai’s position as a key marine and aviation hub. However, experts warn that large-scale projects, such as the Vadhvan Airport, may take more than a decade to fully operationalise, necessitating significant investment and careful passenger flow planning.