A heightened phase of public agitation was witnessed across coastal regions of Maharashtra as the longstanding demand to rename the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) after PAP leader DB Patil was brought to the forefront once again. The situation was intensified as a large-scale march was announced, with warnings issued that airport operations might be obstructed just days before the first commercial flight is scheduled to depart.
It was conveyed by organisers that thousands of individuals from Agri-Koli and other coastal communities were being mobilised to begin a march from Bhiwandi on December 22. The march was being designed as a pressure tactic to ensure that formal approval for the DB Patil name is granted before the airport’s inauguration on December 25. Projections from the movement indicated that the march would expand significantly as it proceeded, with estimates of nearly one lakh participants joining before it reached the airport premises on December 24. A threat of an indefinite shutdown of airport activity was also issued if the renaming demand remained unresolved.
This escalation was being attributed to delayed action on the proposal, which had been endorsed by successive state governments yet remained pending with the Union Cabinet. It was recalled that assurances had been given by the chief minister earlier in the year, with commitments that procedural requirements would be completed within a stipulated period. However, since those indications did not translate into visible progress, frustration was reported to have deepened among local communities. The Bombay High Court’s refusal to intervene, citing the issue as an executive matter, further contributed to the rising dissatisfaction.
The renaming effort was being framed as a struggle for dignity and identity rather than a symbolic alteration of nomenclature. Community leaders expressed that original inhabitants who surrendered land for regional development expected recognition for their contributions. Statements were issued highlighting that the movement represented a collective assertion of honour, with leaders emphasising that withdrawal would not occur until the DB Patil name was officially affixed to the airport. Mobilisation responsibilities were reportedly accepted by organisations across talukas and villages.
Participation from regions including Thane, Vasai, Kalyan-Dombivli, Uran, Panvel, and Mumbai was being anticipated. Unofficial signboards bearing DB Patil’s name for the airport were already being installed by local residents. In Parliament, concerns were raised by MP Suresh Mhatre, who warned that public sentiment should not be overlooked and asserted that airport operations could not commence under a different name.
Further inquiries were being voiced by leaders such as Dashrath Patil, who stated that the community expected transparency on procedural requirements. Although it had been conveyed that the Prime Minister was positive toward the proposal, clarity was being demanded regarding the specific format and steps causing the delay.