The North News
New Delhi, October 7
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Maharashtra on 8 and 9 October to inaugurate major infrastructure projects, including the much-awaited Navi Mumbai International Airport, and to host UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in Mumbai. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Modi will arrive in Navi Mumbai at around 3 pm on October 8, where he will take a walkthrough of the newly built Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). At 3:30 pm, he will formally inaugurate the airport and launch several development projects in Mumbai. He is also expected to address a public gathering on the occasion.
On October 9, at around 10 am, Prime Minister Modi will host UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in Mumbai. The two leaders will attend the CEO Forum at Jio World Centre around 1:40 pm, followed by the 6th edition of the Global Fintech Fest at 2:45 pm, where both will deliver keynote addresses.
Built at a cost of around ₹19,650 crore, the Navi Mumbai International Airport represents India’s largest greenfield airport project under a Public–Private Partnership model. It is designed to complement the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) and reduce congestion in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Spread over 1,160 hectares, the airport will eventually handle 90 million passengers annually and process 3.25 million metric tonnes of cargo. It will feature a fully automated people mover (APM) system connecting its four passenger terminals, dedicated infrastructure for sustainable aviation fuel, 47 MW solar power generation, and electric vehicle bus services. NMIA will also be India’s first airport linked by a water taxi service.
Modi will also inaugurate Phase 2B of the Mumbai Metro Line-3 — stretching from Acharya Atre Chowk to Cuffe Parade — built at a cost of about ₹12,200 crore. With this, the entire 33.5 km Metro Line-3, also known as the Aqua Line, will become operational, representing an investment exceeding ₹37,000 crore.
The underground line will connect Aarey to Cuffe Parade through 27 stations and is expected to serve around 13 lakh passengers daily. It will provide faster access to South Mumbai’s heritage and financial districts, including Fort, Kala Ghoda, Marine Drive, Mantralaya, and the Bombay High Court.
The new metro system is integrated with rail, monorail, and airport services to improve last-mile connectivity across the metropolitan region.
The Prime Minister will also launch Mumbai One — an integrated mobility app covering 11 public transport operators, including Metro, Monorail, Suburban Railways, and city bus services. The app allows digital ticketing across transport systems, real-time updates, map-based navigation, and an SOS safety feature.
Additionally, Modi will inaugurate the Short-Term Employability Programme (STEP), a state-led initiative to boost skill development and job readiness. Implemented across 400 government ITIs and 150 technical high schools, STEP will introduce 2,500 new training batches, including 364 exclusively for women and over 400 in emerging technologies such as AI, IoT, Electric Vehicles, Solar, and Additive Manufacturing.
The programme aims to align vocational training with industry demand and promote youth employability in high-growth sectors.
