Navi Mumbai International Airport
Navi Mumbai Airport, which India is very excited about, is being viewed as a potential fix to the increasing problem of congestion in the air around Mumbai, although a recent Reddit post says that for some travellers, it might seem like the trip to the airport can be more annoying than flying to their destination.According to a recent Reddit post posted in r/navimumbai, an user (angstysnxwflxke) shared that the experience at the new airport and the journey to the airport made their trip rather unpleasant.From the user’s viewpoint, one of the main difficulties was actually locating the passenger terminal. According to the post, the signs guiding passengers to the right terminal were insufficient, which made them rely on Google Maps exclusively.
Original Reddit post
As stated by the poster, they had to circle around the airport until they found a suspicious path which would let them get into the premises of the facility. Moreover, the poster mentioned that there were even employees located within the boundaries of the airport who could not guide them towards the departure terminal.The user estimated that more than 30 minutes were lost just trying to figure out how to enter the airport approach road.
Dust, dug-up roads and constructions
The other issue discussed in the Reddit post was related to the landscape around the airport. According to the author, this area looked like an under-construction place filled with soil and dust. It was hard to believe that this was the entrance to a brand new international airport with all its amenities. The user questioned why more greenery had not been introduced in the large surrounding area, saying the atmosphere felt bleak and unfinished.Inside the building, the traveller complained about the drilling noises and lack of facilities available. The post ended with a blunt conclusion: they were not sure why the airport had opened to the public yet.
Additional insights from locals
It didn’t take long for more Redditors to respond with additional details on the topic of discussion.
Reddit response
One user asked which side the traveller had entered from, saying the Ulwe side of the airport is “super convenient and straightforward.”
The original poster replied that he or she most probably approached from the Panvel side, where all they could see first of all were the directions to the Cargo Terminal. Only then the small signs appeared leading them to Passenger Terminal 1.A Reddit user mentioned that the approach from Panvel is routed via Cargo Terminal and old, pre-construction road, which is inconvenient and time-consuming. But later, a more convenient connection will appear and be quite similar to the one that can be used at the Ulwe side of the airport.
Growing pains of a mega project?
The post draws attention to a common issue associated with recently developed infrastructure projects – world-class facilities may be available at the new terminal, but the entire surrounding network of roads may not yet have been completely ready.For an airport, it is not the security check point nor boarding gate that makes for the start of the journey, but rather easy accessibility, signs, navigation, and even the feeling of arrival.
The absence of some of those elements could easily spoil visitors’ experience at the facility.
Airport waiting area
Why the significance of Navi Mumbai Airport?
The airport is one of India’s most important infrastructure developments and is expected to ease pressure on Mumbai’s existing airport, one of the busiest in the country, as well as eventually serve as an international aviation hub.
What travellers may want to know
Until then, travelers can find it helpful to plan the most convenient way in advance. Extra travel time, following the new maps, and getting advice on local traffic conditions might also help.Online rants cannot reflect the experiences of all travelers, but they certainly draw attention to problems many more people go through silently. In this instance, the discussion initiated by the post is that the terminal at the airport might be prepared earlier than its surrounding environment.
