MSRTC launches Mumbai-Navi Mumbai Airport bus service amid T1 redevelopment plan controversy

Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik on Wednesday (October 7, 2026) flagged off a Dadar–Navi Mumbai International Airport bus service, even as airlines resist Adani Airports’ plan to partially shift international flights to Navi Mumbai airport. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray accused the airport operator of “fleecing” Mumbaikars by pushing a forced shift to Navi Mumbai. 

“The bus service will link the Navi Mumbai International Airport with the ST’s wide public transport network, benefiting air travellers as well as ordinary citizens,” said Mr. Sarnaik, adding that more bus services will be added based on demand.

Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC/ST) has launched the Navi Mumbai International Airport bus service via Atal Setu. Services will also operate from Borivali and Swargate. The Borivali bus will make 10 stops with cost ₹210 for adult and ₹105 for children. The Dadar service will make 8 stops, with fares of ₹170 for adults and half ticket for children. The Swargate bus will charge ₹455 for adult and ₹230 for children, making 22 stops.

According to MSRTC official, National Common Mobility Card (NCMC)cardholder passengers can continue to avail the concessions in fare that apply to 12-metre E-Shivai buses in this service.

The move to launch such services comes amid plans to redevelop Terminal 1 (T1) of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai. Adani Airports has proposed a plan to shift several international flights from CSMIA’s Terminal 2 (T2) to Navi Mumbai International Airport, allowing domestic flights currently operating from T1 to be moved to T2.

A day ago, Union Civil Aviation Ministry paused Adani Airports’ plan to cut 265 (33%) of T2’s weekly international departure slots from October following opposition from airlines. Airlines and Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL) will hold discussions on October 13 on the transition plan, and another meeting on October 20 to finalise the plan.

This has also triggered outrage as opposition party Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Wednesday (October 7, 2026), questioned the move and asked, “Navi Mumbai is an additional airport, not a makeshift airport! Who is it being done for?”

He also urged the Union Minister for Civil Aviation to step-in and “speak up on the Mumbai Airport T1 issue”. 

Taking to X, Mr. Thackeray said, “Our demand is simple: repair/ refurbish/ rebuild the CSMIA- T1 without forcing airlines and passengers to move to DB Patil International Airport — Navi Mumbai.”

He highlighted that the current T1 was built “not too long ago”, and argued that any required upgrade could be carried out without “hassling and fleecing Mumbaikars and those transiting through Mumbai”.

“After the management was made to change hands, one anyway sees chaos in crowd management, and commercialisation of almost every little thing at the airport now — even parking charges per hour are astronomical! Fleecing is on anyway!” he said.

Mr. Thackeray added, “The forced shift to Navi Mumbai, with or without any ground connectivity, was aimed at shutting T1 for 4 years, as initially claimed by the airport operator, and could eventually lead to permanent shiftof operations to Navi Mumbai.