India is set to build its first offshore airport, a project the Maharashtra government has now taken forward by ordering a detailed project report (DPR) for a site off the state's western coast. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has also directed officials to examine extending the Uttan-Virar Sea Link to give the site direct connectivity. The proposed offshore airport is expected to come up near Kore Beach in Palghar district and has been designed to handle around 90 million passengers annually.
What Makes an Airport "Offshore"
Unlike conventional airports built entirely on land, an offshore airport is constructed on reclaimed land or artificial islands in the sea. The approach has already been used successfully in Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea, where it has helped cities expand aviation capacity despite limited land availability, while easing pressure on already dense urban areas.
A Wider Infrastructure Push Around Palghar
For Maharashtra, the airport is part of a broader infrastructure push rather than a standalone project. Alongside the proposed Vadhavan Port, high-speed rail and new road links, it could reshape the economic landscape of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and unlock fresh investment in Palghar. Shravan Nawany, Director of Nawany Group, pointed to three independent developments reinforcing the same growth corridor: CIDCO inviting bids for over 126 acres of industrial land tied to Vadhavan Port, MMRDA being appointed Special Planning Authority across 446 villages in Palghar and Raigad, and now the state initiating the airport's DPR alongside the proposed sea-link extension.
Nawany described the pattern as "not a strategy. It is evidence," arguing that each decision strengthens the region's investment case independently of the others.
- Airport designed for around 90 million passengers annually
- Vadhavan Port projected to generate around 10 lakh jobs
- MMRDA named Special Planning Authority for 446 villages
- CIDCO bids cover over 126 acres of industrial land
How Infrastructure Has Moved Property Markets Before
Airport-led development is not new for the Mumbai region. Around Navi Mumbai International Airport, areas such as Ulwe, Panvel and Kharghar saw sharp price appreciation well before commercial flights began, as investors priced in future demand ahead of operational milestones. Nawany believes the proposed offshore airport could follow a similar pattern, with repricing likely to occur during the planning and approval stages rather than after the airport opens.
A Shifting Focus Towards Virar
The chosen location also marks a shift in earlier planning conversations. Discussions around an airport linked to Vadhavan Port had previously centred on sites closer to Dahanu, but the Kore Beach location moves the focus south, closer to Virar, and closer to existing transport links through the proposed sea-link extension. Nawany suggested that Vasai-Virar and Palghar are well placed to absorb housing and commercial demand generated by the port project, given their relatively affordable land and room for expansion. If developed alongside the deep-water port and the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train, the airport could anchor a new growth corridor across northern MMR, though the project remains at the DPR stage with several approvals still required.
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