Big Move: Navi Mumbai Airport Gets Loknete D.B. Patil’s Name, Pune And Sambhajinagar Airports Await Nod
Big Move: Navi Mumbai Airport Gets Loknete D.B. Patil’s Name, Pune And Sambhajinagar Airports Await Nod
Mumbai, October 4, 2025:
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the Navi Mumbai International Airport will be officially named after Loknete D.B. Patil. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a positive response to this proposal, confirming that the airport will be inaugurated as “Loknete D.B. Patil Navi Mumbai International Airport” once passenger services commence.
Fadnavis clarified that the state government’s stance on naming the airport remains unchanged and the central government also holds no objection. Earlier, approval for airport construction was given under the name “Navi Mumbai International Airport,” but it will now be extended to include Loknete D.B. Patil’s name, as per the state government’s proposal.
He added that during the airport’s trial run, advance bookings, technical preparations, and other operational processes will be carried out, but the official announcement of the new name will be made at the time of passenger operations.
The Maharashtra legislature had already passed a unanimous resolution, and the state cabinet had sent the naming proposal to the central government. The Centre is currently framing a new policy for naming airports, under which this renaming will soon be approved.
Alongside Navi Mumbai, proposals have also been sent to rename Pune Airport after Jagadguru Sant Tukaram and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Airport after Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. These proposals are under central government consideration and are expected to receive approval shortly.
Fadnavis also assured that criminal cases filed against protestors during the Navi Mumbai airport naming agitation would be withdrawn, including those registered under COVID-19 provisions, to ensure that these do not affect employment opportunities at the airport.
The event was attended by ministers, MLAs, MPs, and members of the All-Party Committee for Navi Mumbai Airport Renaming, who unanimously supported the decision.
