Mumbai, October 3, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai will begin the phased redevelopment of the North Section of Terminal 1B from January 2027, with safety concerns over the 60-year-old structure prompting the move, airport operator Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL) said on Saturday.
The redevelopment will temporarily take around 5 million passengers a year out of operation, accounting for nearly 9 per cent of the airport’s annual traffic of approximately 55 million passengers. The North Section represents about one-third of Terminal 1’s capacity.
AAHL CEO Arun Bansal said the airport would continue handling the remaining passenger traffic during the redevelopment. Airlines have also been offered the option of temporarily shifting operations to Navi Mumbai International Airport, which is operated by the same airport group, to minimise disruption.
The redevelopment is expected to increase Terminal 1’s annual capacity by 33 per cent, from the current 15 million passengers to 20 million.
“Passenger safety must remain paramount,” Bansal said, warning that further delays could adversely affect the safety and convenience of travellers. He added that consultations with airlines on the future of Terminal 1 had been underway since 2020 and that the proposed redevelopment had been presented to the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) and incorporated into the approved tariff framework.
The airport operator said concerns over the terminal had been identified several years ago, with temporary mitigation measures implemented while an alternative facility was unavailable. A fire incident at Terminal 1 in April further highlighted the risks associated with continuing operations, it added.
Navi Mumbai International Airport is being positioned as an alternative for airlines affected by the phased redevelopment. It is offering a 100 per cent discount on landing fees for new international flights and plans to provide cash vouchers to international passengers to offset differences in User Development Fees (UDF) between the two airports.
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