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.

On the occasion of Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Jayanti, a special lecture by renowned political scientist and Economic and Political Weekly editor, Prof. Gopal Guru, has been organized at the Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Memorial in Airoli. The lecture will be held on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at 6:30 PM.

The topic of the lecture is “The Modern Educational Perspective of Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar”. This event is part of the ongoing Vicharvedh and Jagar lecture series, which have gained national recognition for transforming the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Memorial into a prominent ‘Knowledge Memorial’ through its state-of-the-art e-library and enriched resources.

Over the years, the memorial has become a hub for intellectual discourse, regularly hosting distinguished speakers who address key contemporary issues. Prof. Gopal Guru, a highly respected scholar known for his in-depth work on political science, social justice, and equality, is expected to offer valuable insights that will deeply engage the audience.

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation has urged citizens, especially students and scholars, to attend this significant event and benefit from the rare opportunity to hear Prof. Guru’s perspective on the transformative educational visions of Shahu Maharaj and Dr. Ambedkar.

The event will take place at the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Memorial, near Airoli-Mulund Creek Bridge, Sector 15, Airoli.

A recent sighting of golden jackals behind DPS Lake in Sector 52A, Nerul, has reignited calls from environmentalists and local citizens to protect the ecologically sensitive area. Wildlife enthusiast Ashutosh Kelkar captured the sighting, drawing renewed public attention to the region’s rich biodiversity.

The DPS Lake area, surrounded by mangroves and part of a vital wildlife corridor near the NRI wetland, has been under scrutiny due to ongoing development pressures. Golden jackals, known to thrive in mangrove ecosystems, have been regularly spotted in the area, underscoring its ecological significance.

Environmentalists argue that the lake and surrounding green patches are essential urban habitats and should be designated as protected forest land. “CIDCO had earlier marked the DPS Lake plot as developable land, despite the revised Development Plan awaiting state approval,” said activist Sunil Agarwal. Allegations have also surfaced against a private builder for illegally cutting over 300 trees without permission or formal possession of the plot.

In response to growing public concern, Maharashtra Forest Minister Ganesh Naik has reportedly instructed CIDCO to immediately halt all development activities on the site. Naik has also asked the Forest Department to explore declaring the area a Conservation Reserve, which would ensure long-term ecological safeguarding.

Activists emphasize that the plot’s close proximity to mangroves makes it a critical part of Navi Mumbai’s coastal ecosystem. “The sighting of golden jackals confirms this is not just green space—it’s an active urban forest,” Agarwal stressed.