Massive Car Rally Demand D.B. Patil's Name for Navi Mumbai Airport
Over 2,000 vehicles thundered from Bhiwandi in Thane district to Navi Mumbai on Sunday
In a powerful show of solidarity, over 2,000 vehicles thundered from Bhiwandi in Thane district to Navi Mumbai on Sunday, as thousands rallied to demand the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport be named after late farmer leader D.B. Patil. The event, marking Patil's birth centenary, was led by NCP (SP) leader and Bhiwandi MP Suresh Mhatre, drawing participants from the Agri-Koli community across Thane, Raigad, Palghar, Mumbai, and Navi Mumbai.
Patil, a revered former MP and champion for farmers' rights, spearheaded protests against land acquisitions for the airport decades ago, advocating fiercely for project-affected people (PAPs). The Maharashtra government approved a proposal in 2022 to name the facility "Loknete Swargiya D.B. Patil Navi Mumbai International Airport" and forwarded it to the Centre, but the decision remains pending despite the airport's scheduled inauguration on September 30, 2025.
"The delay has sparked unrest among the Bahujan community," Mhatre stated in a release. "To spotlight this to the Centre, we've organized this rally." The convoy snaked through key routes, starting at Mankoli in Bhiwandi at 9 a.m., passing Thane, Kalwa, Airoli, Ghansoli, Nerul, and Uran, before concluding at Jasai village near the airport site—ensuring a peaceful tribute to Patil's legacy.
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Mhatre issued a stern warning: "If a wrong decision is made, protests will intensify, and we will obstruct the inauguration ceremony." Earlier campaigns, including a June 2025 rally with over 1,100 vehicles, have echoed these demands, underscoring the community's resolve as the Adani-operated airport nears operational readiness.
With the airport poised to alleviate congestion at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and boost regional connectivity, the naming dispute highlights ongoing tensions over honoring local heroes in Maharashtra's infrastructure boom.
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