This document pertains to Unstarred Question No. 186 in the Lok Sabha, concerning the naming of Navi Mumbai International Airport. The question, posed by Shri Balya Mama Suresh Gopinath Mhatre to the Minister of Civil Aviation, asks: (a) if the government intends to approve the Maharashtra State Government's proposal to name the airport "Loknete Late D.B. Patil International Airport," and to provide details; (b) if a Cabinet Note has been prepared and submitted; (c) and if so, to provide the details, or the reasons for not doing so.
The answer provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Shri Murlidhar Mohol, explains that airports are generally named after the cities they are located in, unless a different name is proposed by the relevant State Government with a resolution passed in the State Legislative Assembly. The decision is made by the Union Cabinet after consulting with relevant Central Ministries/Departments. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has received a proposal from the Government of Maharashtra, along with the resolution passed by the Maharashtra Legislature, to name the Greenfield Airport in Navi Mumbai as 'Loknete D. B. Patil Navi Mumbai Airport'. This is to be answered on January 29th, 2026.
Key Entities Referenced
Navi Mumbai International Airport: The international airport being considered for naming/renaming.
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The central ministry responsible for decisions related to the airport's naming.
Loknete Late D.B. Patil International Airport: The proposed name for the Navi Mumbai International Airport.
Maharashtra: The state government that proposed the name change.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 186
th
(To be answered on the 29 January 2026)
NAMING OF NAVI MUMBAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
186. SHRI BALYA MAMA SURESH GOPINATH MHATRE
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government proposes to approve the proposal of the State
Government of Maharashtra to name the Navi Mumbai International Airport as
"Loknete Late D.B. Patil International Airport" and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Cabinet Note has been prepared and submitted in this regard; and
(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a) to (c): In general, the airports are known by the name of the city in which they are
located, unless another specific name is proposed by the respective State Government
supported by a resolution passed in the State Legislative Assembly. A decision on
naming of Airports is then taken by the Union Cabinet after due consultation with
the concerned Central Ministries/ Departments. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has
received a proposal from the Government of Maharashtra, along with the resolution
passed by the Maharashtra Legislature to name the Greenfield Airport in Navi
Mumbai, Maharashtra as 'Loknete D. B. Patil Navi Mumbai Airport'.
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