Planning a new airport from scratch has been anything but easy. The idea of building one in Navi Mumbai was first floated in 1991. Surveys, studies, and examinations followed, but it wasn’t until 2007 that the project received in-principle approvals. There were numerous challenges. The land had hilly terrain, a creek running through it, and two villages. Over the years, engineers tackled each obstacle, transforming the site into what is now a major airport of global standards.

“The engineers began by flattening the hill surfaces. In Navi Mumbai, stormwater gushes down from steep hills and meets tidal waters, raising levels by 4–5 metres within hours. The developable area lay between Ulwe creek and the Matheran ranges. The project required re-routing the Ulwe Creek and filling low-lying areas,” said an official.