Mumbai airport's Terminal 1 to be demolished and rebuilt, targeted for completion by December 2030

Airport authorities have put forward a major plan to demolish Terminal 1 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and rebuild it. An artist's model of the new terminal's design was shown at a meeting with the Airline Operators Committee. The authorities say the terminal will have modern facilities, make travel easier for passengers and reflect Mumbai's cultural identity.

Under the plan, demolition of the old terminal will begin in April 2027. The new terminal is targeted for completion by December 2030.

The existing Terminal 1 opened in 1964 and has aged after nearly six decades. According to the airport authorities, Structwel carried out a structural audit in 2017 and IIT Bombay another in 2024. Both audits found safety-related and structural deficiencies. This is why a plan has been drawn up to replace the old terminal with one offering modern facilities.

The design of the new terminal gives passenger convenience first priority. The departure area will have a grand entrance and a larger check-in hall that will receive natural light. Artworks and murals showing Mumbai's cultural heritage are also to be installed. The waiting areas are proposed to have indoor greenery, premium lounges and large glass sections offering views of the runways. In the arrival area, there is a proposal to install a large sculpture of the flamingo, a symbol of Mumbai's biodiversity.

After redevelopment, Terminal 1's annual passenger capacity will rise from the current 1.5 crore to 2 crore passengers, an increase of about 33 per cent. To speed up screening and check-in, check-in counters will be increased from 74 to 109. Security check facilities will also expand considerably, with 20 security check lanes proposed: 15 for regular passengers and five for transfer passengers.

To reduce dependence on remote boarding, the number of contact stands connected directly to aircraft will be raised from seven to 25. Twelve state-of-the-art e-gates will replace conventional boarding gates. To make collecting luggage easier, baggage reclaim belts will be increased from five to 11.

The work will be done in phases so that Mumbai's domestic flights continue during the redevelopment. Once demolition of the old terminal begins, the north-west pier of Terminal 2 will be extended on a G+3 basis to handle the additional domestic passenger load. The aim is to bring this extended section into operation by March 2029. The new Terminal 1 will then be built on the site of the old one, with completion planned by December 2030. After the redevelopment, Mumbai airport's total annual passenger capacity is expected to reach 6.5 crore passengers.