Overview
- An inaugural commercial flight landed on December 25, with members of D.B. Patil’s family arriving and carrying his photograph through the terminal.
- Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the state has proposed D.B. Patil’s name for the airport and that the Central government is reviewing the request, a position echoed by CIDCO’s top executive.
- Residents from 27 villages in Panvel announced they will boycott all elections until the airport is officially named for Patil and submitted a formal memorandum to the district authorities.
- Rural parts of Bhiwandi held coordinated black-flag demonstrations opposing the airport’s opening without Patil’s name, with protests encouraged by local MP Suresh Mhatre.
- Supporters point to Patil’s leadership during Navi Mumbai’s land-acquisition struggles and his role in securing the 12.5% rehabilitation scheme for displaced landowners as the basis for the naming demand.