Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) could be expanded by around 15% if a renewed plan to redevelop slum settlements surrounding the airport is successfully implemented. The proposal has gained momentum ahead of the planned demolition of Terminal 1, with additional land expected to be made available for future airport infrastructure.
Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL), led by the Adani Group, could use the land released through the demolition of the existing terminal as well as areas recovered through slum redevelopment. The additional space could be utilised for terminal and runway-related infrastructure, although it has not yet been established whether any portion would also be commercially developed.
Around 275 acres of land owned by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has been occupied by informal settlements over several decades. Dense settlements have developed across parts of Kurla and Santacruz, with structures having been built close to the airport boundary. Their proximity to operational areas has resulted in longstanding concerns over airport security and flight safety, particularly during aircraft landings. Attempts to redevelop the settlements have been made previously but failed to progress. A fresh initiative is now being considered by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), with eligible residents expected to be rehabilitated within the same area rather than being relocated elsewhere in Mumbai.
The redevelopment model adopted at Ramabai Nagar and Kamraj Nagar in Ghatkopar is expected to be considered. An MMRDA official said that residents had been “rehabilitated in situ” under that project and indicated that a similar approach could be followed around the airport. However, a formal proposal is yet to be prepared.
A fresh survey is also expected to be commissioned before the project moves ahead. Earlier estimates had placed the number of residents in the airport settlements at around 85,000 to 90,000, but updated figures will be required to determine the scale of rehabilitation. The project is expected to face an additional challenge because of restrictions on building heights near the airport. Unlike Ramabai Nagar, where 11 residential towers of 22 storeys each are being constructed, similar high-rise development may not be permitted around CSMIA because of aviation regulations. Once rehabilitation has been completed, around 100 acres is expected to be transferred to CSMIA to support future infrastructure development. Together with land released following the demolition of Terminal 1, the space could provide significant scope for expanding airport operations.
RTI activist Anil Galgali has meanwhile called for greater transparency, alleging that “there was corruption in the process” during the previous attempt. He said in-situ rehabilitation should be ensured and maintained that residents should not be displaced to other parts of the city.