- 2 months ago
In an exclusive interview with India Today, Jeet Adani, Director – Airports, Adani Airports Holdings Ltd (AAHL), said the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) will unlock long-term growth and improve global connectivity for the city.
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00:00Jit Adani, you are a guest of Javvi Met, so welcome on the show.
00:12Thank you, thank you Maria.
00:14Let me begin by asking you, you're moving around this story, this massive airport.
00:20This is a dream come true for the Adani group as well.
00:25Satisfaction or sense of pride, what's going on in your mind?
00:29All of those, this whole story, from where we started, what the site was, the kind of challenges, and how the whole team came together and has been able to achieve this, definitely is a sense of satisfaction and pride.
00:45But more than that, also excitement, that this is just the first start, it's a lot further, we are starting with phase 1, there's phase 2, 3, 4 still left, and now the growth story is a lot further.
00:57A lot of excitement with, in terms of, you know, what more is there to come.
01:03This is Mumbai's second airport.
01:05Yeah.
01:05So, not even Mumbai's airport significance in terms of connectivity, understand that.
01:10See, Mumbai was actually much bigger than Delhi, in terms of traffic, and it was growing faster also, but it had its own limitations, you know, it had one runway, two runways, but in cross, so in effect one runway, well, Delhi had room to grow.
01:37So, that's why for the last 10 years, you'll see, Bombay has just been stuck with very minimal growth potential.
01:45So, that's why, Navi Mumbai airport is the biggest growth unlock.
01:48That, when I talk about connectivity, first thing is global connectivity, that what global connectivity is in Delhi, why is it not in Mumbai, and that's why we're solving it today.
02:00Then, when we talk about local connectivity, see, airports are a hub of economic and movement activity in any city you go across the world.
02:08You know, the good thing with Navi Mumbai was, that we had planned this thought process on day one, because it was a clean site, you know, we could plan from scratch.
02:18We have planned for every single mode of transport that you can think of, so be it water, rail, road, metro, suburban, high speed, vertical takeoff and, you know, EV tolls in the future.
02:30So, anything that can possibly transport people to and from the city has been taken care of at this airport.
02:37For 10 years, this project is still working, but nothing has happened to happen.
02:42In this short period, you have established this airport, inauguration has been established, and now there is still Udaan.
02:51So, where did it get stuck?
02:53I wouldn't want to say that it got stuck. I think it was the intent and push of the Adani group, that is what made this possible.
03:05You know, genuinely, we had to serve this city. And then we put all the right resources, we were able to finance it properly.
03:13So, that's why the speed is broken. And, obviously, the majority of the credit goes to the team,
03:21who is on this site day in, day out, last 4 years. Honestly, if you come out, you can see the runway here, there was a mountain.
03:29So, it is really picked up because, see, we have to always keep true to that. So, we never give up in terms of adversity.
03:48Jit, because you talked about the mountain and said that last year there was a mountain.
03:54So, because we are from Bihar, I will remember the story of Dashrat Maan Ji.
04:00And, for 22 years, they started creating a connectivity.
04:05When you broke the mountain and cut the mountain by creating the whole airport,
04:10So, what do you think is that it is a very big job?
04:15No, 100%.
04:16Actually, there were two projects in this project.
04:18First, we had to manufacture the site and then we had to create the airport.
04:22So, we had to move the mountain and unlock Mumbai.
04:28Definitely a parallel.
04:30Of course, Dashrat Ji has done a very noble and social cause
04:35which is, you know, and the achievement was much greater.
04:38But, yeah, I can draw that the global connectivity is unlocked.
04:44It is quite similar.
04:46The infrastructure project is made for government, business,
04:53and local communities.
04:56The people who are here are also supporting this project.
05:01So, how do you deal with this project?
05:04How many years have you covered that space?
05:07We are not able to come outside and sit on the site.
05:13We get into the community, understand where the support is required,
05:17what are their problems, and how can we help them?
05:20Because, we don't have to invest in assets,
05:23we have to invest in people.
05:25From day one, we understood that what are the challenges of the community here,
05:28what are they for employment,
05:30what are they for skilling.
05:32Because, of course, in the next couple of years,
05:35it was an ecosystem of aviation.
05:38This will be one of the biggest hubs in India.
05:39So, they need to skilling in aviation and hospitality.
05:44That's why we got a lot of support from local communities
05:47that we need to improve this project.
05:49And a lot of the work was also given to a lot of local companies,
05:54which were small, but they also have to grow.
05:57How do we improve this project?
06:00They also give opportunities and opportunities.
06:05From a government point of view, 100%, we got so much support
06:10from the state, the central, as well as the local bodies.
06:14Because, again, this is a PPP project.
06:17My partner is our government.
06:19And it cannot be possible without an intervention,
06:22because there are so many moving parts.
06:23I don't want to build buildings.
06:25No, be it connectivity, external dependence,
06:28even the ATC, the air navigation systems,
06:32the instrumentation,
06:34almost 10-15 agencies come to this possibility.
06:38So, Maria, since anyways, you're here,
06:55let's go for a ride.
06:56I'll take you and show you around.
06:57Please, come.
06:59What are the big highlights?
07:01Let's see.
07:02You know how to drive.
07:05Throughout this entire project, how often would you visit?
07:08So, I used to come very, very often.
07:11You know, you have to sort of keep coming
07:14and seeing what the progress is.
07:15But more importantly, at least what support you need.
07:18You know, what do the teams on the ground need help from?
07:21At least us.
07:23And, yes, I think I must have, this is my 60th, 70th visit.
07:29So, you've been pretty hands-on.
07:31100%, yeah.
07:32So, let's talk about the concerns which have been there
07:36with regards to ecology, you know, mangroves
07:39and also the larger wetlands.
07:42Yeah.
07:43So, when you say about ecological responsibility
07:45and also the aim for fast development,
07:48how do you balance the two?
07:49See, I think it's when people say development at the cost of ecology,
07:54I think that's not the right way to think about it.
07:57I think both things have to happen together.
08:00You know, we have that responsibility to be stewards of, you know, sustainability.
08:05You know, when we did the hydrological study of this entire site,
08:09you know, the mangroves were a barrier against flooding.
08:11So, we also, it's in our interest also to protect them.
08:15Where, and the first step to that is protect.
08:19The second step is, if we have to go into some part of the mangrove
08:24to assist with the development, then minimize.
08:28that as much as possible, you can go into some part.
08:31And wherever you are going, you have to compensate.
08:34So, you know, I would say that the ecology is actually a
08:37critical part of our development.
08:39It's not against our development.
08:41You know, so this airport is going to be one of the most
08:45sustainable airports in the world.
08:47It won't start with 100% green energy on day one,
08:50but we have a commitment to go to 100% green energy
08:53over the next three to five years.
08:54Every single equipment at this airport is electrified.
08:58So, there's no diesel.
08:59There's no nothing.
09:00There's day one ability to introduce sustainable aviation
09:03fuel, zero liquid discharge.
09:05So, everything that a good responsible corporate
09:07should be doing to take care of sustainably
09:10and take care of the environment around their asset
09:12is something that we are actively doing.
09:15This whole new Mumbai is flood prone.
09:18Yes.
09:19So, how were you prepared for that?
09:21So, actually, it was a problem and a solution
09:24that we talked about earlier.
09:26So, you know, one, one and a half crore
09:30tons of rock.
09:32Where are we going to take that rock?
09:34So, we actually raised the site by eight meters.
09:39And the way the entire drainage system,
09:42if you go to the runway side,
09:44you'll see the drains are as big as rivers.
09:47Because we wanted to protect the site
09:49from a one in a hundred year event also
09:51of flooding.
09:52Because this is a strategic point
09:55that we call the investment
09:58from the strategic assets point of view.
10:01How do you see this?
10:02No, I think it is a strategic asset for us.
10:05It is a strategic asset for the country
10:07and for the aviation ecosystem.
10:09Because you see the way the entire
10:11you know, aviation ecosystem is exploding.
10:14You know, the number of flights that have been ordered.
10:17You know, the way passengers are traveling,
10:20habits are changing of how air travel is moving.
10:22I think it's extremely important
10:25that this capacity needed to be brought in.
10:28But given geopolitics,
10:31the position of Nabi Mumbai
10:34and the ability to invest and grow
10:37over the next 50 years,
10:39this is, I am very firm that this is going to be
10:42a very critical asset for the entire country
10:45to be connected to the world.
10:46Let's go, let's see, Ajit.
10:49What is this point of view from art?
10:51Yeah.
10:53We wanted to get away with all traditional art.
10:55You have seen the Mumbai airport
10:57so there was a whole India representation
11:00in terms of physical art.
11:02But in Nabi Mumbai, given the name of Nabi is Nabi.
11:06New.
11:07New.
11:08New.
11:09So we didn't see what the entire art was in today.
11:12But now what can be a new art?
11:15So as much as you can see,
11:17everything is either digital or experiential.
11:19But...
11:21From experience point of view.
11:22From experience point of view.
11:24You don't just see the art.
11:26You are experiencing it in multiple different senses.
11:29We wanted to stay true to local roots.
11:31So we have not taken the entire India,
11:33but in Maharashtra there are local artists.
11:36So not very well known artists.
11:38Not a single one of these artists are very well known.
11:40So we actually commissioned them
11:42and partnered with a Western agency
11:45to recreate the art in a very modern form.
11:55Jeet, I am going to refer to this picture
11:57that you posted on your Instagram.
11:59This is probably your dad's birthday.
12:02Yeah.
12:03Where you have posted a picture of both of you,
12:06you and Karan.
12:07And you say,
12:08from standing tall in your protective embrace
12:10to standing tall by your side.
12:13What's one quality of your father,
12:16Gautam Adani,
12:17that you want to emulate?
12:20Ah, there's too many of them.
12:24But I think if I had to pick one,
12:26it's his indomitable spirit.
12:29You know,
12:30I have rarely heard of anyone else
12:33who's been, time and again,
12:35been, you know,
12:36there's been difficulties right in front of him
12:38and he's never taken anything,
12:40you know, lying down.
12:42He has fought difficulty,
12:43smashed through it
12:44and come out stronger.
12:45And that spirit and that belief in himself
12:48is something that I want to emulate.
12:50All of you have a very private persona.
12:53Yeah.
12:54And at the same time,
12:55you have a lot of culture in Hindustan.
12:58Yeah.
12:59There's a lot of talk about
13:00the Adani family,
13:01Gautam Adani.
13:02So how do you balance all this?
13:04As long as the thing is good
13:07or the thing is bad,
13:08the thing itself is a sign of importance.
13:13From a very personal point,
13:16what is our family value?
13:18Home, work and home.
13:21There is no 30 different things
13:23that we engage in outside of work and home.
13:26Hmm.
13:26So it's dear,
13:27by design,
13:29it becomes very private as a life.
13:31So,
13:32you said that
13:33home, work,
13:34then home,
13:35then home.
13:35So,
13:36what does the family sit down,
13:37talk,
13:38talk,
13:39do you have a compulsory dinner?
13:41Do you have any rules in the house that you follow?
13:44No, there's no rules in the house.
13:46But that's the good part
13:48that the entire family is working in the business.
13:50So, the family is one of the same.
13:51and the family is also one of the same.
13:54One more picture.
13:55There is a picture here,
13:56on October 8th,
13:58where the Prime Minister Narendra Modi came
14:00and he had inaugurated it.
14:02Yes.
14:03And in the picture,
14:04you are telling the Prime Minister Modi
14:07or telling something.
14:08So,
14:09what was his suggestion
14:11to look at the airport?
14:13I would say,
14:13I would say,
14:14that they have seen less,
14:15or seen less.
14:16Because,
14:17when I was going to take them
14:19with me,
14:20you are so minutely
14:22seeing every little detail.
14:24And,
14:25what they asked 3-4 questions
14:27was also very interesting.
14:29He asked me,
14:30what is the pillar that you are seeing?
14:31What is the pillar of life?
14:33Out of common sense,
14:35I said,
14:36that 50-60 years will be going.
14:38He said,
14:38what is the pillar of life today?
14:40So,
14:40the man,
14:41his vision is,
14:42that,
14:42that,
14:43that you have made 100 years.
14:46It is unbelievable.
14:47So,
14:48you are in the port's business.
14:49Adani Group is in the port's business.
14:51How is the port's business from the airport?
14:53And,
14:54now,
14:55we are operating a lot of airports.
14:56Yes.
14:57And,
14:58perhaps,
14:59the business house,
15:00the industrialist,
15:01the industry group
15:03was in the port's business.
15:04What will they be doing in the airport?
15:06There are a lot of learnings
15:08from the port sector.
15:10But,
15:11fundamentally,
15:12the airport is an infrastructure business.
15:15As a business,
15:16you have to do two things.
15:19One is,
15:20you have to make an asset.
15:21So,
15:22execution on very complicated projects,
15:24which is our best.
15:26And,
15:27second is,
15:28what we have done the first time,
15:29is customer experience and product creation.
15:32That,
15:33what you are looking at the shops,
15:35what you are looking at the hospitality experience,
15:37in the lounges.
15:39That is what we have to curate.
15:41That was the new part for us.
15:43But,
15:44we have a good team.
15:46So,
15:47because of that team,
15:48we were being able to get this early success.
15:50From a larger operation and efficiency point of view,
15:53it's the same framework,
15:54which we have used in ports,
15:55that is the same framework.
15:57How do you run a lean operation?
15:58How do you bring in technology?
15:59How do you be future forward?
16:01How do you bring in technology?
16:02How do you be future forward?
16:03Yeah.
16:04I
16:10So,
16:13at the airports,
16:14what you experience has been in general,
16:15Because I'm sure you have traveled to the biggest and most,
16:21passenger friendly airports also.
16:22Indeed.
16:23You know passenger friendly airports also, so how has your own experience been it's it's varied from every place
16:30You go to every place is different. I mean the best one of the best I've had was Singapore
16:36More just from a curiosity first time point of view
16:40Dubai and Doha has also been quite good
16:44But actually it doesn't feel the same as
16:47Bombay Airport, you know, but it's just so easy as compared to some of these other guys
16:55Yeah, there's sometimes people say the line kabhi nahi hota hai either sometimes a line mil jata hai
17:02There's no Dior and Hermes and Chanel
17:04Yeah, I mean for me. I don't anyways enjoy shopping that much. So you don't shop at the airport. So I eat a lot
17:11So for me food is important. So so you eat at the airport
17:15I eat at the airport. I eat very often at airport. Okay, so look at this. It's very
17:21Centric to the place. So Bengaluru, Hyderabad if you look at it, it's you're talking about it in terms of
17:30The language of that state. Guwahati, Assamese, you know Telugu, Tamil
17:36When it is you know, from Chennai it is in Tamil. So is there a thought in this?
17:42Yeah, I mean there at the end of the day every small like I was saying
17:46Every small little detail has been worked out keeping in mind passenger experience
17:51All of this is not something that a
17:53S.O.P. or something that will tell you
17:55You know, it's what people's passion is that you know more you notice
17:59More you see more you think about you know
18:01How can I make every day slightly little better from what the experience was last time?
18:06So if you see all across all of our tech
18:09What we're introducing here for the first time in the world is the ability for passengers to track their bag even within the airport
18:15I plan to always
18:16You always have to worry about my bag when I'm going to come to my bag
18:19But you will be able to track my bag in two minutes and this is coming to the airport
18:24I want to understand from you particularly to do with strategic assets like Haifa
18:31When you acquire these strategic assets, what do you think about it?
18:37And how significant is it from geopolitics point of view?
18:41Yeah, I would say that the decision of acquiring an asset
18:47First of all is always driven by discipline
18:49Financial discipline
18:51Whether you know we are not overpaying or acquiring something which is not going to give us the return
18:58Then the second part comes through that
19:00How are we especially, you know, assets like Haifa
19:04You know, how are we furthering India's goals?
19:06So connectivity through the middle east connectivity into the imac was extremely important
19:12So that's why that decision played into a strategic advantage for India as well
19:35Now we will finish this interview
19:42And the question is that
19:44Some of the images that have come from the airport
19:47Some of the images that have come from the airport
19:48They have been in chaos
19:50And there is a disaster
19:51Flight cancellation
19:53So how do you see the overall challenges of the aviation industry?
19:57No, I think definitely
20:00Industry has its own challenges
20:02Because it is a very fragile ecosystem
20:06You know, the small problems suddenly snowball
20:09And it is very important to create resilience in the system
20:17So today's work was done
20:19And now we have to do what we have to do
20:21You know, creating places like Navi Mumbai
20:24Creating, you know, new capacity, new airlines and so on and so forth
20:29Is important to create that resilience in the system
20:33You know, at the end of the day
20:36The most important thing is that
20:38The industry, every part of the industry is on take-off mode
20:44It is not taken off yet
20:45I would still say for the last 15 years it's been on take-off mode
20:48It's been running at full speed
20:50And now is the time for it to take off
20:52Similar to this runway
20:53This is a ground to get all of us to Viksit Bharat
20:57That runway?
20:58Absolutely
20:59Many more like these
21:00On the way to Viksit Bharat
21:03Jee Tadani
21:03Really appreciate your time
21:05Thank you
21:05Thank you
21:06Thank you for being the guest on
21:07And when we met
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