‘Need better road connectivity at NMIA to facilitate ease of doing business’

Afzal Malbarwala, MD, Galaxy Freight said, “Firstly, we would like to thank our government for providing Mumbai with an additional airport, given that Mumbai is the financial centre and one of the most important cities in India. We definitely need better road connectivity to the new airport, and while it’s going to take some time, it’s super important for making things easier for travellers. Right now, people flying out of Mumbai might find it quicker to get to BLR or MAA instead. The government is on it, and once the infrastructure is finished, getting to the airport should be a breeze. One big thing to think about is how many airlines will start operating from this airport. If cargo gets offloaded and the next flight isn’t for a week, we need to figure out who will handle the extra costs and how the remaining goods will get shipped. Will airlines use bonded trucking to take cargo back to the old airport, or will they wait for the next flight? – is another question that comes to mind.  These hiccups are part of getting started, but we’re hopeful they’ll get sorted out soon. Once everything is running smoothly, this airport will bring awesome advantages with its space and high-tech facilities, and the warehouses will be huge and automated. The Navi  Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) along with the Noida International Airport, or Jewar Airport, is set to be a game changer, especially since it’s part of the Indian government’s plan to double the domestic airport network to 300 by 2047. Unlike the busy Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, NMIA is designed for smooth, congestion-free access. Plus, it’s conveniently located near the Nhava Sheva seaport, a major point for importing and exporting containerised goods, making it a great fit for the region’s logistics operations. Perturbed by the delays caused by the congested Mumbai Air Cargo complex, freight forwarders are hopeful that the new airport will ease a lot of the burden and be beneficial for facilitating quick cargo movement, which comes as a welcome development, especially for perishables.