15,000 Protesters to March to Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan Over Navi Mumbai Airport Naming Demand

By Samira Vishwas On Jul 7, 2026

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Around 15,000 people, including project-affected persons (PAPs), farmers and members of the Agri-Koli community, are expected to march from Panvel to the Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan on Wednesday, renewing their long-standing demand that the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) be named after late farmers’ leader Loknete Dinkar Balu (DB) Patil.

The demonstration, organised by the Loknete DB Patil Navi Mumbai International Airport All-Party Action Committee, is expected to be one of the largest public mobilisations on the issue in recent years. Organisers said participants will travel to Mumbai to press the state government to immediately announce the airport’s official name before its commercial operations begin.

The demand to name the greenfield airport after DB Patil has remained one of the most politically sensitive issues in the Navi Mumbai region for more than a decade. Supporters argue that Patil played a pivotal role in protecting the rights of farmers and landowners affected by major infrastructure projects in Raigad district and deserves recognition for his contribution to the region.

The naming dispute has repeatedly sparked protests by local residents, farmers and political organisations. While the Maharashtra government has held discussions with stakeholders on several occasions, no final notification on the airport’s official name has been issued, prompting renewed agitation.

Leaders of the Action Committee said the march aims to remind the government of assurances made to local communities regarding the airport’s naming. They warned that if the demand continues to remain unresolved, the agitation could be intensified in the coming weeks.

Authorities are expected to deploy additional police personnel along the Panvel-Mumbai route and around the Vidhan Bhavan to maintain law and order during the demonstration. Traffic diversions may also be implemented as thousands of protesters are anticipated to reach south Mumbai during the ongoing monsoon session of the Maharashtra Legislature.

The Navi Mumbai International Airport, being developed by Navi Mumbai International Airport Ltd. (NMIAL), is one of India’s largest greenfield aviation projects and is expected to significantly enhance air connectivity in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region by easing congestion at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.

With the airport nearing operational readiness, the unresolved naming issue has once again emerged as a major political flashpoint, bringing together farmers, project-affected families and local communities seeking recognition of DB Patil’s legacy.