If you ship goods in or out of Navi Mumbai, three things matter: the new airport, the rail lines serving the port, and the roads that tie them together. This page is for importers, exporters, forwarders and small businesses who need to identify transport options, official contacts and the checks to make before a shipment. It is not a visitor guide. Airports, ports and cargo terminals are restricted areas, and access is controlled by the operators.
Each section says what official pages describe as running, what they describe as planned, and who to ask before you commit a consignment. For registration, start with the IEC registration and JNPA import export guide. For what the port is and how it works, see the JNPT port guide.
Cargo and logistics at a glance
| Link | What official pages say | Confirm with |
|---|---|---|
| Air cargo at Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) | The airport opened for commercial operations on 25 December 2025. Its cargo page describes a cargo terminal and publishes working hours and free-period rules. Mumbai Customs Zone III has issued notices on Customs operations at the airport. Larger capacity is planned in phases. | NMIAL cargo desk, your airline or forwarder, your customs broker |
| Rail to JNPT (Nhava Sheva) | JNPA describes a rail lead line from the port to Jasai station on the Central Railway Mumbai division. Indian Railways operates the port rail system. | JNPA, Central Railway Mumbai division, your terminal operator |
| Western Dedicated Freight Corridor | DFCCIL lists JNPT as the western end. JICA reported the corridor complete and fully operational on 8 September 2026. | DFCCIL and your terminal operator, for which services run to your terminal |
| Rail terminal at Turbhe | JNPA’s inland container depot list carries a Turbhe entry with CONCOR contact details and two rail sidings. | CONCOR |
| Roads and the sea bridge | JNPA names the highways that reach the port. MMRDA’s Atal Setu FAQ lists connectivity with JNPT and the airport. | JNPA, your terminal operator, MMRDA, the toll operator |
Air cargo at Navi Mumbai International Airport
The operator’s release of 25 December 2025 says NMIA began commercial operations that day. The same release describes cargo as a core focus of the airport, with 0.5 million tonnes a year in the first phase. NMIA’s About page also gives 0.5 million metric tonnes for the launch phase, though that page still says the airport is “scheduled to start commercial operations in the last quarter of 2025”, so it has not been updated.
What the airport’s cargo page describes
NMIA’s cargo page says the terminal is built for domestic, international, express and transit cargo. It lists dedicated handling for pharmaceuticals, perishables, oversized cargo, cold-chain shipments, hazardous cargo, live animals and valuable cargo. It also lists Customs offices inside the premises, offices for plant quarantine, animal quarantine and the drug controller, a bank counter, and parking and staging space for trucks, trailers and refrigerated trucks.
Terminal hours and free periods
The cargo page publishes these working hours and free periods. The page carries no date, so confirm them before you plan around them.
| Service | Published hours |
|---|---|
| Export, import and trans-shipment operations | 24 by 7 |
| Admin department | 09:30 to 18:30 |
| Import examination token | 09:00 to 17:30 |
| Customer counters: export cargo acceptance, gate pass or delivery token, RMS clearance or direct delivery, domestic air cargo operations | 24 by 7 |
Published terminal hours do not establish your airline’s cargo acceptance cutoff, documentation deadline or the availability of every examination and specialist-handling service.
| Free period | Published rule |
|---|---|
| Export, first stage | 12 hours from cargo admittance to acceptance |
| Export, second stage | 36 hours from acceptance to actual departure |
| Import | 48 hours from flight finalisation in the Custodian Management System |
Confirm which charge each free period applies to, its start and end events, applicable exceptions and the charges after expiry. A free period is not a waiver of all shipment charges.
The cargo page also describes a Next Generation Airport Cargo Community System and an automated truck slot management system, both in the future tense. It says NMIA “will serve as a multimodal transshipment hub” with opportunities for sea-to-air business. Treat those as plans until the airport says they are live.
Customs for cargo at NMIA
Mumbai Customs Zone III lists its public notices on its public notice page. Two of them, both issued by the Commissioner of Customs (Export), concern NMIA. Public Notice 16/2026-27, dated 9 July 2026, is titled “Launch of Indian Customs EDI System (ICES 1.5) for Import and Export and Commencement of operations at Navi Mumbai International Airport”. It names Navi Mumbai International Airport Private Limited (NMIAL) as the custodian for cargo handled at the airport’s Air Cargo Complex and lists port code INNMI4 and custodian code INNMI4NMI1. Public Notice 17/2026-27, dated 13 July 2026, covers the Express Cargo Clearance System (ECCS) for export and import courier shipments at the airport’s courier terminal.
CBIC’s courier portal lists Advisory 08/SYS/WZU/2026 of 7 July 2026 on the ECCS roll-out at NMIA. It describes a phased roll-out, with export consignments under the Courier Shipping Bill (CSB-III) as a pilot in the first phase and further roll-out depending on the preparedness of all stakeholders. Read the notices themselves for filing and registration details, and ask your broker or courier which arrangement applies on your shipment date.
| Shipment type | What the official notices cover | Confirm with |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional air cargo | Public Notice 16/2026-27 on ICES 1.5 and the start of operations at NMIA. It also gives the Customs office to approach for problems with import or export clearance: the Assistant or Deputy Commissioner of Customs. | Your customs broker or forwarder, the NMIA Customs help desk, the NMIAL cargo desk |
| Express or courier shipment | Public Notice 17/2026-27 on ECCS at the NMIA courier terminal, and the CBIC advisory on its phased roll-out. Whether a shipment uses this route, and what the courier needs from you, depends on the authorised courier. | Your authorised courier, the ECCS helpdesk |
| Sea cargo through JNPT | Not covered by the NMIA notices. Customs clearance for sea cargo at JNPT sits with Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House (JNCH), and terminal or container freight station instructions apply. | JNCH, your terminal operator or CFS |
Public Notice 39/2026-27, dated 30 September 2026, says a dedicated help desk for trade has been set up on the 2nd floor of the Facility Building, Air Cargo Complex, NMIA. It gives helpdesk.acc.nm@gov.in for queries on import or export.
Confirmed freighter operations and flight checks
Cathay Cargo’s newsroom announcement of 23 September 2026 says its Mumbai freighter operations relocated to NMIA effective 21 September 2026, and that it operates three dedicated freighter flights a week from NMIA. That is one carrier describing its own operation. It is not a standing timetable for the airport, and the airport pages do not name other freighter operators or give a start date for each cargo category.
The STAT Trade Times reported on 15 July 2026 that NMIA handled its first international export cargo that day: 1,789 kg of fruit and vegetables bound for Abu Dhabi, carried in the belly hold of Air India Express flight IX207, a scheduled passenger service. The report quotes NMIA calling the shipment the formal launch of its international cargo services. One shipment on a passenger flight does not show which cargo categories, destinations or volumes you can book today, so ask your airline or forwarder.
NMIA’s Cargo Flights page is a live board of cargo movements. A displayed movement does not establish bookable capacity or commodity acceptance, so use the board to see activity and ask your airline or forwarder which airport your consignment will use and whether they will accept it.
Trade press has reported that freighter flights are shifting from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj airport to NMIA. The STAT Trade Times reported on 22 December 2025 that Mumbai airport’s operator had told cargo partners freighter operations would be suspended from August 2026 to May 2027 for apron and runway work. The Core reported on 6 October 2026 that the airport operator linked the move to Terminal 1 redevelopment, and that forwarders cited limited cargo space, a shortage of dollies and delays at the new terminal. The same report said a sterile area for pharmaceuticals had been deferred and a large scanner for oversized cargo pushed to Phase II. Reports describe the transition and associated constraints differently. Confirm the handling airport, receiving terminal and available facilities for your shipment date.
Capacity: design figures, not throughput
Official sources publish different phased or ultimate capacity figures. NMIA’s cargo page says handling capacity will grow from 0.50 to 2.60 million metric tonnes with the final phase. The operator’s December 2025 release says cargo facilities will be capable of 3.2 million tonnes a year on completion. The Prime Minister’s Office background note of 8 October 2025 says the airport will eventually handle 3.25 million metric tonnes of cargo. Their scope is not fully reconciled, so they should not be treated as directly equivalent. They are design and build-out figures, not volumes moved. The airport’s cargo pages do not give throughput figures.
The sea-air link with JNPT
The operator’s release says NMIA’s proximity to JNPT, which it puts at 20 km, creates an integrated logistics cluster for sea-air transshipment, and expects it to support sectors such as agriculture and pharmaceuticals. The release does not say how the distance is measured. How a sea-air consignment is cleared between the two is a question for your customs broker and Customs. For the wider airport picture, see the Navi Mumbai airport guide.
Rail cargo serving JNPT and Navi Mumbai
The existing rail link to the port
JNPA’s rail access page says the port is linked to Indian Railways by a lead line to Jasai station, on the Panvel to Uran branch of the Central Railway Mumbai division, 9 km from the port. Indian Railways operates and maintains the rail system at the port, and a four-line holding yard between Jasai and the port is used to hold and regulate traffic during congestion. The page also names two onward corridors, a Northern Corridor towards Ludhiana and a North Western Corridor to Rewari.
Western Dedicated Freight Corridor
DFCCIL’s overview page, updated 5 October 2026, describes the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor as a 1,506 km container corridor from Dadri in Uttar Pradesh to JNPT in Mumbai, with double-stack container, port-connect container, Trucks on Train and automobile parts services among its service types.
For current status, the dated September 2026 announcements are used here. The Prime Minister’s Office release of 7 September 2026 said the New Saphale to New JNPT section would be dedicated on 8 September, with freight services to be flagged off from stations including New JNPT, Mumbai. JICA’s release of 8 September 2026 reports the Western DFC as complete and fully operational. JNPA’s rail-access page retains older project wording and a different corridor length (1,504 km against DFCCIL’s 1,506 km).
A completed corridor is not a timetable. None of these pages gives a schedule of container services to a particular terminal at JNPT. Ask DFCCIL and your terminal operator which services run to your terminal before you build a plan around the corridor.
Rail terminals and depots in the Navi Mumbai area
JNPA’s inland container depot page lists rail-connected depots across India and carries a Turbhe entry with CONCOR contact details. The page is undated and is a directory listing, not a service notice. Before you plan around it, confirm destination service, frequency, cargo acceptance and first and last mile with CONCOR, the Container Corporation of India, and do not read the listing as proof that every Customs function is available at Turbhe.
With that caveat, the entry describes a depot commissioned in 2000, with two full-length rail sidings in the Central Railway goods shed, near CWC, Sector 20, Turbhe. The main services it lists are domestic: cargo handling, cabotage of ISO containers, door delivery and pick up, warehousing and domestic LCL consolidation. It also lists scheduled services to Delhi (Tughlakabad), Shalimar (Kolkata) and Amingaon (Guwahati).
Central Railway’s portal has pages for the Mumbai division, its freight business and its freight terminals. Use them to find the goods shed or siding relevant to your cargo, then confirm with the division.
Road and port links
This section is short on purpose. The port, its terminals and Customs steps have their own guide: the JNPT port guide.
- Highways to the port. JNPA’s SEZ page names NH 348 (old NH-4B), which it says connects the port to the Sion-Panvel highway, the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and NH 4, and NH 348A (old SH-54), which abuts the SEZ and connects to Navi Mumbai. JNPA’s road access page still uses the older names and describes Amra Marg as running from the Sion-Panvel highway through Belapur, Nerul and Ulwe to join SH 54. Confirm the terminal-specific approach, vehicle restrictions and current works with JNPA or your terminal operator before you route a truck. The road page also lists widening and flyover works around the port without dates.
- Atal Setu. MMRDA’s official FAQ of March 2024, written when the airport was still proposed, lists faster connectivity with the proposed NMIA, JNPT, the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and the Mumbai-Goa Highway. That describes the project. It does not make the bridge the best route for every truck. Toll depends on vehicle class and entry and exit point, and MMRDA refers readers to the government toll notification. See the Atal Setu toll guide and the toll plazas guide.
- Reaching the cargo terminal. Before dispatch, obtain the cargo receiving gate’s location pin, approach-road instructions, reporting point and vehicle-entry requirements from the terminal or handling agent. The airport’s project-office address is not a verified cargo delivery address.
If you plan to visit the port, JNPA’s site lists a visitor pass and a pass issue procedure. Ask JNPA before you travel. Ports and cargo terminals are not open to casual visits.
Information to prepare for a quotation
Have these details ready before you ask a forwarder or carrier for a price. This is a practical worksheet, not a statutory document list.
| Topic | What to have ready |
|---|---|
| Shipment | Commodity, package count, packaging type |
| Size | Gross weight and dimensions of each package |
| Handling | Temperature, dangerous goods or oversized requirements where applicable |
| Locations | Exact collection and delivery addresses |
| Timing | Cargo-ready date, required delivery date |
| Transport | Airport or port, terminal, proposed service |
| Quote basis | Chargeable weight or container basis, included and excluded services |
| Local charges | Collection, handling, documentation, clearance, delivery |
| Delay costs | Relevant free periods, storage or detention conditions |
| Commercial terms | Taxes, insurance, quote validity |
Compare quotations only when they cover the same service scope. A lower figure that leaves out clearance or delivery is not a like-for-like comparison.
Who to ask for what
| Question | Organisation or service provider |
|---|---|
| Air cargo terminal hours, free period, acceptance, truck access | NMIAL cargo desk, Nmial.cargo@adani.com |
| Which airport your freighter flight uses, rates, booking | Your airline or freight forwarder |
| Transport booking and Customs clearance for a forwarded shipment | Your forwarder and customs broker. Confirm the transport booking and the Customs clearance arrangements separately. |
| Customs queries for air cargo at NMIA | Customs help desk at NMIA, Air Cargo Complex, helpdesk.acc.nm@gov.in, under Public Notice 39/2026-27. See also 16/2026-27 and the Zone III notice list |
| Courier shipments through NMIA | Your authorised courier. The ECCS helpdesk in Public Notice 17/2026-27 is eccs.helpdesk@icegate.gov.in or 1800-2666-882. |
| Customs clearance for sea cargo at JNPT | Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House, jawaharcustoms.gov.in |
| Port terminals, container freight stations, port road and rail access | JNPA, helpline 1800 22 8282 as published on its site |
| Dedicated Freight Corridor services and business development | DFCCIL |
| Goods sheds, sidings, rake indents | Central Railway Mumbai division |
| Turbhe depot services and scheduled trains | CONCOR |
| Atal Setu toll and vehicle rules | MMRDA |
Before you book a consignment
- Ask the airline or forwarder which airport, NMIA or Mumbai, will handle the flight on your date.
- Get the NMIA cargo terminal’s current hours, free periods and charges in writing from the cargo desk.
- Ask your customs broker or courier which Customs arrangement applies to your shipment at NMIA.
- For pharmaceuticals, perishables or oversized cargo, ask which facilities are open now and which are still planned.
- Ask whether a DFC rake slot or a terminal siding is available for your cargo, not just whether the corridor exists.
- For trucks, confirm the gate, routes, toll class and any port or airport access pass.
- Keep your IEC and other registrations in order. The IEC registration and JNPA import export guide covers them, and the how to start a business in Navi Mumbai covers local setup.
Sources and a note on dates
Sources checked on 8 October 2026. Airport: NMIA’s cargo page, Cargo Flights page and About page; the operator’s release of 25 December 2025; the Prime Minister’s Office note of 8 October 2025; Cathay Cargo’s announcement of 23 September 2026. Customs: Mumbai Customs Zone III public notices 16/2026-27, 17/2026-27 and 39/2026-27, and CBIC Advisory 08/SYS/WZU/2026. Reports: the STAT Trade Times of 22 December 2025 and The Core of 6 October 2026. Port and rail: JNPA’s connectivity, rail access, road access, SEZ and inland container depot pages; DFCCIL’s overview page; the Prime Minister’s Office release of 7 September 2026 and JICA’s release of 8 September 2026; Central Railway’s Mumbai division, freight business and freight terminals pages; the Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House site. Road: MMRDA’s Atal Setu FAQ. Capacities, hours, services and schedules change, and several of these pages carry no date, so confirm with the organisation named above before you rely on them. NaviMumbai.com is an independent information site and is not affiliated with NMIAL, Adani Airports, Customs, JNPA, DFCCIL, Indian Railways, CONCOR, MMRDA or any airline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an air cargo terminal at Navi Mumbai International Airport?
NMIA’s cargo page describes a cargo terminal for domestic, international, express and transit cargo and publishes working hours and free-period rules. The pages give no start date for each cargo category, so confirm with the NMIAL cargo desk.
What is the cargo capacity of Navi Mumbai Airport?
Official sources publish different phased or ultimate capacity figures. NMIA’s cargo page says capacity will grow from 0.50 to 2.60 million metric tonnes across phases, the operator’s December 2025 release says 3.2 million tonnes on completion, and the Prime Minister’s Office note of 8 October 2025 says 3.25 million metric tonnes eventually. Their scope is not fully reconciled, so they are not directly equivalent. They are design figures, not volumes handled, and the airport’s cargo pages do not give throughput figures.
Are freighter flights moving from Mumbai airport to Navi Mumbai?
Cathay Cargo announced on 23 September 2026 that its Mumbai freighter operations relocated to NMIA effective 21 September 2026, with three dedicated freighter flights a week. That is one carrier’s announcement, not a timetable. Reports describe the wider transition differently, so confirm the handling airport, receiving terminal and facilities for your shipment date with your airline or forwarder.
What Customs notices cover cargo at Navi Mumbai airport?
Mumbai Customs Zone III lists Public Notice 16/2026-27 on ICES 1.5 and the start of operations at NMIA, and Public Notice 17/2026-27 on ECCS for courier shipments at the NMIA courier terminal. Read the notices for filing details and ask your customs broker or courier which arrangement applies to your shipment.
Which railway station serves JNPT for freight?
JNPA says the port is linked to Indian Railways by a lead line to Jasai station on the Panvel to Uran branch of the Central Railway Mumbai division, 9 km from the port.
Is the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor open to JNPT?
The Prime Minister’s Office said on 7 September 2026 that the New Saphale to New JNPT section would be dedicated on 8 September, and JICA’s release of 8 September 2026 reports the corridor complete and fully operational. JNPA’s rail page still carries older project wording. None of these pages gives a timetable for a particular terminal, so ask DFCCIL and your terminal operator which services run to yours.
Is there a container rail terminal in Navi Mumbai?
JNPA’s inland container depot list carries a Turbhe entry with two rail sidings and CONCOR contact details. The page is an undated directory listing, so confirm destination service, frequency, cargo acceptance and first and last mile with CONCOR.
How do trucks reach JNPT from Navi Mumbai?
JNPA’s SEZ page names NH 348 (old NH-4B) and NH 348A (old SH-54), and its road access page describes Amra Marg through Belapur, Nerul and Ulwe. Confirm the terminal-specific approach, vehicle restrictions and current works with JNPA or your terminal operator.
Does Atal Setu connect to JNPT and the airport?
MMRDA’s March 2024 FAQ lists faster connectivity with JNPT and the then proposed NMIA. That does not make it the best route for every truck. Toll depends on vehicle class and entry and exit point, so check the current toll notification.
Where do trucks deliver cargo at the airport?
Obtain the cargo receiving gate’s location pin, approach-road instructions, reporting point and vehicle-entry requirements from the terminal or handling agent before dispatch. The airport’s project-office address is not a verified cargo delivery address.
Can I visit the airport cargo terminal or the port?
Both are restricted areas run by their operators. JNPA lists a visitor pass and a pass issue procedure on its site. Ask the operator before you travel.
