Gulf Construction Online - India to build first offshore airport on man-made island

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India to build first offshore airport on man-made island

18-02-2025

India is set to build its first offshore airport near Mumbai, the country’s financial capital, as part of the Narendra Modi-led government’s initiative to transform the nation’s infrastructure, sources familiar with the matter were quoted as saying in a Bloomberg report.

According to the report, the new airport will be located on an artificial island close to the Vadhvan seaport along India’s west coast.

The sources, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the information, informed that the design of the airport will be similar to Hong Kong International Airport and Osaka’s Kansai International Airport, both of which are situated on man-made islands.

The project received initial approvals from the federal environment and defence departments, as well as the Maharashtra state government led by Devendra Fadnavis, in a meeting held last month.

Feasibility studies will be launched, with the Airports Authority of India aiding the process. Once those studies are complete, an estimated investment figure will be revealed, said the Bloomberg report.

The Vadhvan airport, located about 125km from Mumbai’s current international airport, highlights the scale of the Modi government’s ambitious plans, while also presenting significant challenges.

Across the country, billions of dollars are being spent on constructing roads, airports, and power facilities.

Prime Minister Modi had mentioned the start of construction for the Vadhvan airport during an election rally in Maharashtra last November.

The airport blueprint includes road and high-speed rail connectivity, with a proposed bullet train line between Mumbai and Ahmedabad making a stop near the Vadhvan airport.

Two major inter-state highways—New Delhi-Mumbai and Mumbai-Vadodara—will also be connected to the airport, providing easy and quick access for travellers, stated the Bloomberg report.

Once completed, the Vadhvan seaport will be three times larger than India’s largest existing ports and its deepest. The nearby offshore airport, built on reclaimed land, will enhance connectivity and avoid delays often caused by land acquisition issues, it added.