Airlines may move flights to Navi Mumbai International Airport from summer 2027 as Mumbai airport prepares for Terminal 1 redevelopment.

The Shift

Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) has asked 12 international airlines to temporarily shift their flight operations to the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) from the summer schedule of 2027.

The move comes as Mumbai airport prepares for the redevelopment of Terminal 1, which will affect its existing flight-handling capacity. Out of 50 international airlines that requested flight slots for the summer schedule, the airport has allocated slots to 38 airlines. The remaining 12 have been asked to consider operating from Navi Mumbai.

The affected airlines operate flights to 14 international destinations, including Bahrain, Dammam, Doha, Jeddah, Kuwait City, Muscat, Riyadh, Sharjah, Kathmandu and Dhaka.

According to reports, the proposed shift could affect around five million passengers annually, while nearly 91% of Mumbai airport’s existing passenger traffic will remain unaffected. The Terminal 1 redevelopment project is expected to increase its annual passenger-handling capacity from 15 million to 20 million. Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2027 and is targeted for completion by March 2029.

Mumbai airport has assured airlines that their existing flight slots will be restored after the redevelopment work is completed. The move is aimed at distributing flight operations between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai airports while maintaining smooth passenger services during the construction period.

Residents question the driver over littering in public, prompting him to clean the stain; video of the incident goes viral on social media.

The Gutkha

A cab driver was confronted by a woman resident for allegedly spitting gutkha on Palm Beach Road in Navi Mumbai. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media, showing the driver eventually cleaning the spot after being questioned by residents.

The incident reportedly took place when a woman noticed the driver spitting gutkha on the road near his vehicle. She questioned him and asked him to clean the area. However, the driver initially denied the allegation and refused to take responsibility.

The argument intensified when two security guards joined the discussion and questioned the driver. The woman also pointed out that spitting in public places is punishable and can attract fines.

After initially refusing, the driver eventually poured water from a bottle and cleaned the gutkha stain from the road.

The video, shared on social media by Richa Sameet, has triggered discussions about civic sense and the responsibility of citizens to maintain cleanliness in public spaces.

The incident has also highlighted the problem of people spitting tobacco and gutkha on roads and other public places, despite rules against such practices. Residents have stressed the need for greater public awareness and responsible behaviour to keep Navi Mumbai clean.

20-year-old Tannu Dhobi sustains a bullet injury to her back, while her elder sister escapes with a minor injury; accused arrested within hours.

The Open Fire

A 20-year-old woman is battling for her life after a man allegedly entered a house in Sector 1, Koparkhairane, and opened fire on two sisters on Thursday night.

The incident took place at around 9 pm when Tannu Dhobi and her elder sister, Ritu Dhobi (22), were at home with their mother. The accused, identified as Arjun Chauhan, allegedly barged into the house and fired at the sisters before fleeing.

Tannu sustained a bullet injury to her back, while Ritu escaped with a bullet grazing her ear. Their mother rushed both women to a hospital for treatment. Tannu’s condition is reported to be critical, while Ritu also received medical attention. At the time of the incident, their father and brother, Nitin Pradeep Dhobi, had stepped out for work.

The Koparkhairane police took Chauhan into custody within hours of the shooting. Preliminary investigations suggest that a possible love affair may have led to the attack. However, the exact motive is yet to be established. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the source of the firearm and whether anyone else was involved in the attack.