New international airport, underground metro set to transform travel and connectivity in Mumbai: PM Modi
(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the Navi Mumbai International Airport on Wednesday, announcing that the new hub and the city’s first fully underground metro will change how people move around Mumbai.
The airport, designed with a lotus‑shaped layout, will accommodate about 90 million passengers a year and 3 million tonnes of cargo. Modi said it will let Maharashtra’s farmers ship fresh produce, fish, and other goods faster to Europe and the Middle East, lowering export costs and driving new business into the region.
Mumbai has now earned its second international airport, Modi noted. “With this airport, we are moving Mumbai into the league of global multi‑airport cities,” he said, hinting that the new hub will help make the city one of Asia’s biggest connectivity centers.
In the same ceremony, Modi highlighted Mumbai’s new underground metro line. Built beneath the city’s historic streets, the tunnel will cut travel time for commuters and stand as a symbol of India’s growing capabilities. “Congratulations to all the workers and engineers who made this possible,” Modi said.
The prime minister also linked the metro’s success to broader development plans. “India has put a lot of money into highways, rail, and ports,” he explained. “These projects tie everything together and let people move faster, create jobs, and improve daily life.”
A key part of that plan is the PM Setu scheme, a Rs 60,000‑crore investment aimed at linking Indian technical institutes with industry. Modi said the Forbes‑style partnership will give students training in areas like drones, robotics, electric vehicles, solar power and green hydrogen – skills the country needs for future growth. The Maharashtra state has rolled out new programs in hundreds of schools today.
Modi stressed that India’s youth are the nation’s biggest asset. “We are dedicating every umbrella of policy to create jobs for young people,” he said. He referenced the Vadhavan Port project, worth Rs 76,000 crore, as an example of how infrastructure investment fuelled employment.
He praised the growth of India’s aviation sector. From just 74 airports in 2014 to more than 160 today, Modi noted the rise of the UDAN scheme, which has made air travel affordable for millions. “India is now the world’s third‑largest domestic air market,” he said. The growth in airlines and aircraft orders, plus the expanding maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) sector, will create opportunities for pilots, cabin crew and technical crews alike.
The prime minister also gave a hard‑line stance on security, citing the 2008 attacks on Mumbai and criticizing former governments for perceived weakness. “We must protect our citizens and not let threats weaken our resolve,” he said.
Modi encouraged citizens to support “swadeshi” goods—indigenous products that keep money in the country and create local jobs. He urged people to say proudly “This is swadeshi” and to keep buying and gifting locally made items.
Returning to infrastructure, Modi reaffirmed the goal of a “One Nation, One Mobility” system. The new Mumbai One App will let commuters buy a single ticket that works on local trains, buses, metros and taxis, cutting queues and making travel hassle‑free.
The Navi Mumbai International Airport, the largest greenfield airport project in India, will operate under a public‑private partnership. It covers 1,160 hectares and will relieve congestion at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. Modi said the new hub reflects India’s vision of a developed nation built on speed and progress.
Source: aninews
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