Authority says no permission was issued for the structure near Terminal 2; MIAL asked to follow due process
MUMBAI: GTNS, SEPTEMBER 10, 2026; A dispute over a mosque-like structure near Terminal 2 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport has intensified after the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) said that it had not granted approval for the structure.
The structure is located near the VIP arrival and taxi-stand area of Terminal 2, according to the MMRDA communication cited in reports. The authority has asked Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) to take appropriate action regarding the structure while following the prescribed legal procedure.
MMRDA Clarifies Its Position
In a letter dated September 8, MMRDA said it had received a complaint concerning the existing structure.
The authority stated that it had not issued permission for the structure and that the applicable development plan did not designate a site or plot for a public place of worship at that location within the notified airport area.
MMRDA is the Special Planning Authority for the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport Notified Area and handles development permissions in that jurisdiction.
MIAL Asked to Examine Removal
The MMRDA communication places the next procedural responsibility on MIAL. The airport operator has been asked to initiate action concerning removal of the structure in accordance with due procedure.
This means the current development should not automatically be described as a completed demolition. The available information confirms a direction for action, while the actual removal process remains a separate step.
Kirit Somaiya Raises Political Heat
BJP leader and former MP Kirit Somaiya had earlier raised the issue and visited the area on September 3.
Somaiya has alleged that the structure was unauthorised and has demanded action against those responsible. He subsequently shared the MMRDA communication, saying it supported his demand for action.
His allegations and political statements, however, should be distinguished from the official position of the planning authority.
Why the Location Matters
The dispute has attracted attention partly because the structure is situated within the airport’s notified area, where development and construction are governed by specific planning and regulatory requirements.
MMRDA’s official description of the airport notified area confirms that the authority processes approvals for development and operational construction in the zone.
Earlier Prayer-Shed Dispute at Terminal 1
The latest controversy should also be distinguished from an earlier case involving a temporary prayer shed near Terminal 1.
In March 2026, the Bombay High Court dealt with a petition seeking space for prayers near the airport. The court noted that an earlier temporary shed had been demolished by MMRDA after it was treated as unauthorised. The court ultimately declined to order allocation of another prayer facility, citing the circumstances and airport-related considerations before it.
That case involved a different structure and location and should not be presented as the same incident now under discussion at Terminal 2.
Gelatin Claim Not Established
Questions have also circulated online about an alleged 300-kg gelatin-related incident and whether it is connected to the airport controversy.
At present, there is no reliable confirmation establishing a link between that allegation and the structure dispute. Global Times News therefore does not treat the claim as an established fact.
Any connection between the two matters would require confirmation from Mumbai Police or another competent investigating authority.
What Happens Next?
The immediate focus is now on the action to be taken by MIAL following the MMRDA communication.
The key confirmed development is that MMRDA says it did not grant permission for the structure and has asked MIAL to take action regarding its removal through due procedure.
Further developments will depend on the inspection, administrative process and any legal or security-related action taken by the concerned authorities.
Global Times News | INDIA ; GTNS
SEPTEMBER 10, 2026
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