Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, Jun 18: Nearly a decade after it ceased passenger operations, Mumbai airport's historic Terminal 1-A has been almost completely demolished, bringing the curtain down on a structure that once served as a key hub for domestic air travel.
The demolition of the old terminal, located adjacent to the Taj Santacruz hotel, is part of the redevelopment of Terminal 1, a major infrastructure project aimed at enhancing the airport's future capacity.
According to officials associated with the project, most of the terminal structure has already been razed, with only debris clearance and the dismantling of surrounding infrastructure remaining. Demolition teams are currently focused on removing the elevated access road and related structures.
Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) had commenced demolition work in November 2025 after obtaining the required No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).
Terminal 1-A was once an integral part of the airport's domestic operations. The original Terminal 1 complex was divided into sections A, B and C, with Terminal 1-A primarily serving Indian Airlines, later Air India. In 2005, Kingfisher Airlines began operating from the terminal, and following the airline's closure, the space was allocated to GoAir.
The terminal stopped handling passengers in 2016 after Air India and GoAir shifted their operations to the newer Terminal 2. Since then, airport authorities have referred to Terminal 1-B simply as "Terminal 1", although signboards along the Western Express Highway continue to bear references to Terminal 1-B.
Officials said nearly 80 per cent of the demolition work has been completed. Structures currently being dismantled include the Terminal 1-A building, the elevated access road, a defunct chiller plant and temporary sheds.
Project contractors said demolition is expected to be completed within the next three months, after which construction of the new Terminal 1 will begin.
"We have almost completed the majority of the work and do not intend to halt operations during the monsoon. So far, the demolition has progressed without any untoward incidents," a contractor associated with the project said.
Sources also indicated that certain approval-related issues involving the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation had briefly affected redevelopment planning but have since been resolved.
With the demolition nearing completion, Mumbai's aviation landscape is set to witness the transformation of one of its oldest airport terminals into a modern facility designed to meet growing passenger demand in the years ahead.