Mumbai News Live Updates: PM Modi inaugurates Navi Mumbai International Airport, flight ops to begin from December

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched the 'Mumbai One' mobile app which enables commuters to book a single QR-based digital ticket usable across Metro, Monorail, buses and local trains in the city and surrounding regions.

Described as India's first integrated common mobility app, it will do away with the need for multiple paper tickets or separate bookings, officials said.

The app, developed for the entire Mumbai Metropolitan Region, will be available for downloading from 5 am on Thursday, they added. — PTI

A Navi Mumbai court on Wednesday rejected the anticipatory bail application of former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar's father, Dilip Khedkar, who was booked for allegedly abducting a truck driver following a road rage incident last month.

Opposing the bail, police submitted that Khedkar and his wife Manorama had destroyed evidence by making the CCTV DVR disappear, hiding the SUV, and the victim's mobile phone. — PTI

A cyber fraudster allegedly posed as a representative of a finance company and tricked a Mumbai Police constable into paying Rs 6.65 lakh after the latter applied for a loan of Rs 2 lakh, an official said on Wednesday.

The investigation revealed that a fake mobile phone application resembling the genuine one of the finance company had been created to commit the crime. — PTI

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) was fined on Monday by the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) after it was found that at the civic-run Shatabdi Hospital, ECG was carried out on patients by "ward boys". 

Read the full report here

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and legendary soccer player Michael Owen visited Mumbai's Cooperage Football Ground on Wednesday and interacted with young Indian footballers and a few coaches during a Premier League Community Showcase event.

Starmer, who is on his first India visit since becoming the Prime Minister in July 2024, took part in a closed-door event while also meeting the young players from Oxford Foundation. — PTI

The CBI has accepted the acquittal of all the 22 accused in the 2005 alleged fake encounter case of gangster Sohrabuddin Shaikh and his aide Tulsiram Prajapati and won't file an appeal against the 2018 verdict by a special court, the Bombay High Court was told on Wednesday.

The special court had acquitted all the accused in December 2018, noting that the prosecution had failed to establish a cogent case to suggest that there had been any conspiracy to kill Shaikh and others, and the role of the accused. — PTI

Actor Priyanshu alias Babu Ravi Singh Chhetri, who became famous for his onscreen character 'Babu Chhetri' in Hindi film "Jhund", was allegedly murdered by his friend following a drunken brawl in Nagpur, in the wee hours on Wednesday, police said. 

Read full report here

Express photos by Narendra Vaskar

The United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday visited the Yash Raj Films (YRF) Studios in suburban Andheri and announced that major Indian production houses including the YRF will make movies across locations in the UK.

The UK PM, on a two-day visit to India, was accompanied by a delegation of his country's film industry including representatives of the British Film Institute, British Film Commission, Pinewood Studios, Elstree Studios and Civic Studios. — PTI

'Congress surrendered before terrorism.Because of Congress's weakness, terrorism got space. But (we) gave a befitting reply to terrorism. For us nothing is important that the safety of our countrymen,' Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during the inauguration of the Navi Mumbai International Airport on Wednesday.

Indirectly targetting former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Modi said, "While every penny we spend for infrastructure in the country paves way for better facilities for the citizens, there is a political class in the country which create hurdles in the development and indulge in corruption."

"While we are inaugurating the Metro 3, let me remind you what such people did. I was part of it's bhumipujan but these people created hurdles. They formed the government (MVA in Maharashtra with Congress) and created hurdles in the project."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "It was my dream that even those wearing slippers should be able to travel by air. Now India has 160 airports, up from 74. the UDAN yojana has made travel by air affordable and economical."

He added, "India has emerged as the world's third biggest in terms of the Aviation sector. Today, indigenous companies have 1,000 aircraft orders. Our endeavor is to make India global aviation leader."

"The NMIA is a  such aproject which reflects a historic past, of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the lotus design; farmers, fresh harvest, fisherfolks and fresh catches will get global markets," said PM Modi, adding, "Investment will increase due to the airport."

The Prime Minister also remembered late PWP leader DB Patil after whom the airport is proposed to be named.

Addressing the crowd at the inauguration of the Navi Mumbai International Airport, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Mumbai's long wait is over with the NMIA. The airport will provide the biggest connectivity in Asia...An era of great opportunities."

He added, "The Navi Mumbai airport will give a boost to the development of Maharashtra and MMR."

"The airport will be game changer and this will be the only airport that will be connected through water taxi," said Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at the inauguration of the Navi Mumbai International Airport. 

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, 'THe NMIA became a reality because PM (Modi) got clearances on all pending issues in a single meeting.' He added, 'We needed eight critical NOCs, Modiji gave it in the first meeting, paving the way for this world class infrastructure.'

"The airport was planned in 1990 but the project never took off, but when the Modiji-led government came in the centre and state, we requested Modiji to include this project in their development plan. He immediately agreed and facilitated all the necessary and critical NOCs," he added.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis further said, "The next focus is to have the country's first offshore airport." Further praising PM Modi, Fadnavis said, "CM says Modi has always stood by Maharashtra’s like a rock."

Speaking at the inauguration of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said, 'The NMIA  is an engineering marvel. It has the potential to increase GDP by one per cent.'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday ahead of his visit to Mumbai to inaugurate the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), shared a post over X, hailing the airport to boost 'commerce and connectivity.'

He wrote: 'On the way to Navi Mumbai to take part in the programme marking the inauguration of Phase-1 of the Navi Mumbai International Airport. With this, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region will get its second major international airport, thus boosting commerce and connectivity. The final phase of the Mumbai Metro Line-3 will also be inaugurated. We are committed to enhancing Mumbai’s infrastructure and boosting ‘Ease of Living’ for the people of this dynamic city.'

The Navi Mumbai International Airport, set for inauguration on Wednesday, has been built to withstand even the most extreme weather events, according to officials.

“We are prepared for the worst cloudburst scenario. The airport has been raised to 8.5 metres and has been tested. Don’t worry, it will never flood,” Captain BVJK Sharma, chief executive officer of NMIA, said at a press briefing.

Stating that every detail of the airport has been designed with the passenger in mind, he said, “There will be pre-booked parking, DigiYatra-enabled gates, plenty of self-baggage drops, a trusted travel programme to skip queues at check-in and immigration, and food delivery directly to your boarding gate.”

Here are the main features of the NMIA.

The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), set to be inaugurated on Wednesday, is expected to transform Mumbai’s aviation landscape, providing a modern gateway for passenger travel and regional logistics.

It has been constructed to address the severe congestion faced by Mumbai’s sole international airport, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA).

Its first phase, with an annual capacity of bearing 20 million passengers, includes one 3,700-metre-long and 60-metre-wide runway, designed to Code F specifications to handle large aircraft. The airport will eventually have four terminals and a second parallel runway, expanding capacity to 90 million passengers annually. 

Here's what you need to know about NMIA.

Here are some glimpses of the Navi Mumbai International Airport that is set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday at 3:30 pm: 

(ANI and PTI Photos)

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Wednesday, sharing his excitement, ahead of the launch of Mumbai Metro Line 3, posted glimpses of the Metro line, its stations, Aarey Car Depot, and the Cuff Parade crossover on his X handle.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Wednesday shared his excitement with Mumbaikars ahead of the launch of Mumbai Metro Line 3. 

Taking to X, Fadnavis wrote: "All decked up to serve Mumbaikars! Hon PM @narendramodi ji will shortly flag off Mumbai Metro Line 3, phase 2B from Cuff Parade to Acharya Atre Chowk. Few hours to go.."

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer Wednesday arrived in Mumbai, where he was received by Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and top state leaders at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday extended a warm welcome to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as he landed in Mumbai for a two-day bilateral visit to India.

Taking over X, Modi wrote: "Welcome Prime Minister Keir Starmer on your historic first visit to India with the largest ever trade delegation from the UK. Looking forward to our meeting tomorrow for advancing our shared vision of a stronger, mutually prosperous future."

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer Wednesday arrived in Mumbai, and met with business leaders at Mumbai's Taj Mahal Palace today, and posed for a selfie with them.

The Mumbai traffic police said they have implemented several measures to ensure the smooth flow of traffic and the safety of pedestrians Wednesday and Thursday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his UK counterpart, Keir Starmer, visiting the city for two days.

There are no major traffic diversions in the city, but more than 1,000 traffic police personnel, along with local police officers, will be deployed, especially at places in South Mumbai and BKC, Thursday, to ensure the smooth flow of traffic.

“Once the Global Fintech Fest is over in BKC, PM Modi will arrive at the airport. We do not require any diversion, and only a five-minute traffic halt will be enough to clear the movement”, said a traffic police officer.

Check complete details here.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the Short-Term Employability Programme (STEP), an initiative of the Maharashtra government aimed at expanding skill development across 400 government ITIs and 150 technical high schools, during his visit to the city on Wednesday.

STEP will create 2,500 new training batches, including 364 for women, and introduce courses in AI, IoT, EVs, Solar Energy, and Additive Manufacturing.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday will unveil ‘Mumbai One’, an integrated app connecting 11 public transport operators, including Mumbai Metro Lines 1, 2A, 3 and 7, Mumbai Monorail, Navi Mumbai Metro, Mumbai Suburban Railway, and bus networks of BEST, Thane, Mira Bhayander, Kalyan Dombivli, and Navi Mumbai.

The app enables mobile ticketing across various modes, eliminates queues through digital payments, and offers real-time travel updates, route suggestions, and an SOS safety feature, allowing commuters to enjoy seamless, cashless travel across the metropolitan network.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday will meet Britain CEO delegation at 12 noon at Hotel Taj Palace in Mumbai.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Wednesday called the inauguration of the Navi Mumbai International Airport a "milestone in infrastructure development."

Sharing a post on X, the CMO wrote: "A New Era of National Development, A Fulfilment of Aspirations Inauguration of Navi Mumbai International Airport at the hands of PM Narendra Modi"

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Navi Mumbai at 2.45 pm on Wednesday, to inaugurate the Navi Mumbai International Airport, where he will be welcomed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

He will inaugurate the Airport following a walkthrough at 3.30 pm. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday will dedicate the entire Mumbai Metro Line-3 corridor — the 33.5-km Colaba–Bandra–SEEPZ Line — to the nation by flagging off services on its final 10.99-km stretch between Acharya Atre Chowk and Cuffe Parade.

With this, the corridor — built at a cost of ?37,270 crore — connecting Cuffe Parade to Aarey JVLR with 27 stations will become fully operational.

Designed as the backbone of Mumbai’s future transport network, Line-3 links South Mumbai’s administrative and financial districts with Bandra-Kurla Complex, the airport and SEEPZ.

It is expected to carry 13 lakh passengers daily, reducing 6.65 lakh vehicle trips and saving 3.5 lakh litres of fuel every day, in addition to reducing congestion and emissions across the city.

Mumbai and its suburbs are likely to experience generally cloudy skies along with light rainfall on Wednesday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast.

The maximum and minimum temperature will hover around 32 and 24 degrees Celsius, respectively.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer landed in Mumbai on Wednesday, where he was received by Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and top state leaders at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday will host UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who is on a two-day bilateral visit to India, in Mumbai, where the two leaders will attend the Global Fintech Fest 2025 at Jio World Centre and deliver keynote addresses.

The event, themed “Empowering Finance for a Better World – Powered by AI, Augmented Intelligence, Innovation, and Inclusion,” is expected to draw over 100,000 participants from 75 countries.

In a major connectivity boost, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate Phase 1 of the Navi Mumbai International Airport, open the city’s first fully underground metro corridor, and launch ‘Mumbai One’, India’s first integrated common mobility app, on Wednesday.

He will also launch the Short-Term Employability Programme (STEP), an initiative of the Maharashtra government aimed at expanding skill development across 400 government ITIs and 150 technical high schools.

The Maharashtra Gems and Jewellery Policy 2025, which aims to attract investments worth Rs 1 lakh crore and create five lakh new jobs, was approved in a cabinet meeting held on Tuesday.

The policy that will remain in effect from 2025 to 2030, aims to increase exports from the sector from $15 billion to $30 billion.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has announced a package of ?31,628 cr for farmers affected by heavy rains and floods on Tuesday.
The announcement was made in a joint press conference alongside Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar. 

A relief fund of ?4 lakh each will be given to famililes of the deceased while ?74,000 to ?2.5 lakh will be provided to the injured. 
In addition to this, ?1,20,000 will be given for construction of pucca houses in hilly areas that collapsed due to rains. Similarly, a compensation of ?1,30,000 is allocated to rebuild kutcha houses. 

The CM has also assured more than ?72,600 for cattle owners who suffered losses. 

During the press conference, CM Devendra Fadnavis said that the farmers up to 3 hectares of land will also be given with a relief  package though the NDRF norm is only for farmers with 2 hectares of land. 
An extra ?10,000 cr will be directly sent to the farmers' accounts. 
Moreover, a crop insurance of more than ?50,000 cr will also be given to the farmers. 

Pigeons fly against a clear blue sky at Chowpatty in Mumbai.
The Indian Meteorogological Department has forecast a partly cloudy sky for October 7. 
Light to moderate rain is expected on October 7. 

The Bombay High Court Tuesday refused to grant interim stay on the September 2 Government Resolution (GR) on the implementation of the Hyderabad Gazette to grant Kunbi status to Marathas from the Marathwada region.

The court also issued notices to the Maharashtra Government in various pleas challenging the GR and sought its reply in affidavit through the Social Justice and Special Assistance Department within four weeks.

The Bombay High Court has issued a notice to NIA seeking its reply to an appeal filed by activist Gautam Navlakha, arrested in the Elgaar Parishad case against special court’s rejection of his plea seeking permission to reside in New Delhi during the pendency of the case.

The special court designated under the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act in June this year had rejected Navlakha’s plea, after which he approached the HC in July this year challenging the same.

The septuagenarian Delhi resident was arrested in the case on April 14, 2020.

A bench of Justices Gadkari and Ranjitsinha R Bhonsale on Friday issued notice to NIA seeking its reply by next hearing on November 7.

Read the full story here.

The Customs officials at the Mumbai airport over the weekend seized animals and items allegedly from a few passengers from Thailand and Sri Lanka.

Five passengers have been placed under arrest in connection with the seizures.

With the legalisation of hydroponic weed in Thailand, attempts are made to smuggle the high quality weed into India. Bangkok has also become a hub from where exotic animals that are in high demand to be used as pets are smuggled into the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take stock of progress in diverse aspects of the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and initiatives in key pillars of trade and investment with his UK counterpart Keir Starmer during his two-day visit to Mumbai, news agency PTI reported.

During his visit beginning Wednesday, Modi will also inaugurate various infrastructure projects in the city.

Modi will inaugurate the final phase of Mumbai Metro Line-3 built at a total cost of over Rs. 37,270 crore, as per the report.

He will also launch "Mumbai One", India's first integrated common mobility app for 11 public transport operators. (PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to ianugurate the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) on Wednesday, which officials claim that has been built to withstand even the most extreme weather events.

“We are prepared for the worst cloudburst scenario. The airport has been raised to 8.5 metres and has been tested. Don’t worry, it will never flood,” Captain BVJK Sharma, chief executive officer of NMIA, said at a press briefing. 

Stating that every detail of the airport has been designed with the passenger in mind, he said, “There will be pre-booked parking, DigiYatra-enabled gates, plenty of self-baggage drops, a trusted travel programme to skip queues at check-in and immigration, and food delivery directly to your boarding gate.”

Read more about the features of the airport here.

Mumbai and its suburbs are likely to experience generally cloudy skies along with light to moderate rainfall on Tuesday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast.

The maximum and minimum temperature will hover around 31 and 25 degrees Celsius, respectively.

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