Despite extensive cement-concrete surfacing in the MIDC areas near Navi Mumbai, poor road quality and persistent drainage issues continue to cause major inconvenience for drivers, especially during the monsoon season.

The industrial zones surrounding Navi Mumbai include 136 km of roads, with 21 km falling under the jurisdiction of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) in Rabale and parts of Mahape. The remaining 115 km, managed by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), have been largely concretized. However, poor workmanship at road joints and along service roads has led to the early formation of potholes, even with the season’s first rains.

Drainage issues further worsen the situation, as many drainage holes are positioned higher than the road surface, causing water to accumulate on the roads after even minimal rainfall. Service roads with paver-block surfaces are particularly prone to flooding and becoming severely damaged.

In Turbhe MIDC, improperly leveled manholes and elevated channel edges have become hazardous for motorists. Shiv Sena Ubatha group’s sub-city chief, Mahesh Kothiwal, said that despite holding protests to highlight these problems, little improvement has been made.

When contacted, NMMC officials were unavailable for comment. MIDC’s executive engineer, R. G. Rathod, stated that while resurfacing work is nearing completion, the ongoing monsoon has delayed repairs. Final patchwork and improvements will be carried out soon.

The situation highlights the need for better construction standards and timely maintenance to ensure safe and durable roads in the region.

In a significant step towards enhancing the city’s waste management system, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has approved a Rs 934 crore project for improved garbage collection and transportation. As part of this initiative, the civic body will soon distribute 24,000 new garbage bins across the city, ensuring better waste segregation at the source.

The bins, color-coded in blue and green, will be placed in various residential and public areas within the next week. The new system will introduce electronic vehicle (e-vehicle) based waste collection for the first time in Navi Mumbai, promoting eco-friendly transportation.

The new waste management contract spans nine years, replacing the previous seven-year arrangement that ended in March 2022. The project emphasizes the segregation of waste into multiple categories beyond just wet and dry, including domestic hazardous waste, plastic, wood, glass, and metals.

Under the new plan, the city will see the deployment of 246 waste collection vehicles, including 40 e-vehicles and several large compactors, a significant increase from the current fleet of 110 vehicles. All vehicles will be monitored in real-time through a centralized control room to ensure transparency and efficiency.

Currently, Navi Mumbai generates approximately 750 tonnes of waste daily, including 340 tonnes of wet waste and 410 tonnes of dry waste. The new system aims to further improve Navi Mumbai’s position among India’s cleanest cities, where it already ranks in the top tier alongside cities like Indore and Surat.

Passengers flying from the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) will soon pay a User Development Fee (UDF) of Rs 620 for domestic departures and Rs 1,225 for international departures, excluding taxes. Arriving passengers will pay Rs 270 for domestic and Rs 525 for international flights. The fee structure, announced by the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA), will be applicable from NMIA’s commercial launch until March 31, 2026, or until regular tariffs are finalized.

Compared to Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), where departing domestic and international passengers currently pay Rs 207 and Rs 726 respectively (taxes included), NMIA’s UDF is notably higher. Initially, NMIA had proposed even steeper charges, but AERA moderated these fees in the interim tariff order.

NMIA’s operator submitted a multi-year tariff proposal in February 2025, projecting the airport’s first control period from April 2025 to March 2030. NMIA is expected to commence operations by August 2025 with an initial capacity of 20 million passengers annually, expanding to 90 million per annum across five phases by future timelines.

The airport operator plans to invest approximately Rs 57,333 crore in infrastructure development across the first three phases, with Rs 22,531 crore allocated for Phases I and II. AERA has also approved an ad hoc tariff for cargo operations, with a directive to simplify the cargo tariff structure in future reviews.

The regulator will finalize regular tariffs after detailed examination, while the interim rates will ensure smooth commercial operations from the outset.