India's first offshore airport to come up on a man-made island near Mumbai? All you need to know

India is set to construct its first offshore airport near Mumbai. The proposed project, located on an artificial island near Vadhvan Seaport on the west coast, promises to upgrade the region’s connectivity, said a Bloomberg report. The airport's design will reportedly resemble Hong Kong International Airport and Osaka’s Kansai International Airport, both built on man-made islands.

Vadhvan Port is a ₹76,000 crore initiative that, once completed, will rank among the world's top 10 ports. It is slated to be developed in two phases – first ending in 2030 and the second in 2039.

Currently, Mumbai has two airports — one in Santacruz, and the other expected to be operational in April in Navi Mumbai. Interestingly, the plan for a third airport has been on the cards for some time.

• The new airport will be situated around 125 kms from Mumbai’s current international airport.

• The project has received the initial green light from both federal environment and defence departments, alongside the Maharashtra state government. Feasibility studies will provide a clearer picture of investment requirements.

• Work on the Vadhvan Airport is expected to begin in November. Given the scale of the project, it is likely to take over a decade to complete, similar to the 2035 timeline for the Dalian Jinzhou Bay International Airport in China.

• Rapid connectivity between the offshore airport and Mumbai’s existing terminals, as well as the Adani Group's new airport in Navi Mumbai, will be pivotal.