Massive Rally Demands D.B. Patil’s Name for Navi Mumbai Airport, Inauguration Threatened
Published 15 Sep 2025, 6:38 PM IST
Key Points
- What: A large car and bike rally demanding that the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) be named after late farmer leader D.B. Patil was held on Sunday. Organisers claimed participation of around 2,000–2,500 vehicles and estimated about 12,000 people joined. Police have not yet issued an official count.
- Where/When: The rally started in Bhiwandi (Thane district) and proceeded towards Jasai village near the airport site in Navi Mumbai. It drew support from several districts in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), including Thane, Raigad, Palghar, and Nashik.
- Who: The protest was led by NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MP Suresh Mhatre, along with leaders of the Loknete D.B. Patil International Airport All Party Action Committee. Participants included Project Affected Persons (PAPs) and members of the Agri-Koli community whose land was acquired for Navi Mumbai’s development. Mhatre warned that the airport inauguration “will not be allowed” unless the naming demand is accepted.
Impact on Navi Mumbai
The dispute over the airport’s name has become a flashpoint for regional identity and politics. With construction reportedly 94% complete and the Maharashtra government preparing for an inauguration later this month, the demand has escalated into a high-stakes confrontation.
For the Agri-Koli community and PAPs, naming the airport after D.B. Patil is seen as recognition of his role in fighting for farmers’ rights during the land acquisition phase. Community leaders argue the issue is about more than just a name, it is about respect and representation for those whose lands built Navi Mumbai. The rally slogan, “No name, no flight,” echoed this sentiment.
The Maharashtra Assembly has already passed resolutions recommending the name of D.B. Patil. However, final approval rests with the Union Civil Aviation Ministry, which has yet to announce a decision. This delay has fuelled frustration among PAPs, who allege they are being ignored in major infrastructure decisions, pointing also to earlier naming controversies such as the Atal Setu bridge.
Political Dynamics
The rally has also become a political wedge issue. Opposition leaders, including members of the NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT), have criticised the Centre for not acting on the state’s resolution. While the ruling Mahayuti government has officially recommended D.B. Patil’s name, local BJP leaders such as MLA Prashant Thakur are under pressure to explain the Centre’s silence to an increasingly impatient vote bank.
Political observers note that the agitation reflects a deeper sense of disenfranchisement among PAPs, who feel excluded from decisions on projects developed on their ancestral lands. The ultimatum issued at the rally, if carried out, could complicate the inauguration of a nationally significant infrastructure project.
Sources
Massive car rally demands Navi Mumbai International Airport be named after D. B. Patil – Times of India, 14 Sept 2025
Over 2,000 Cars To Rally From Bhiwandi To Jasai Demanding D.B. Patil’s Name For Navi Mumbai Airport – Free Press Journal, 14 Sept 2025
CM Fadnavis sets ‘ambitious’ September-30 target for Navi Mumbai Airport inauguration, with construction over 94% complete – Hindustan Times, 13 July 2025
First passenger flight from Navi Mumbai International Airport set to take off in September: Devendra Fadnavis – The Economic Times, 12 July 2025
