The Maharashtra cabinet on Tuesday approved a new Metro corridor connecting Mumbai and Navi Mumbai airports, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announcing the development shortly after the cabinet meeting. The new line will be 35 km long and aims to offer a direct and efficient public transport service between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and the recently opened Navi Mumbai International Airport.
Route length, cost and timeline
According to the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Office, the corridor will be 35 km long, including a 9-km underground stretch. The line will have 20 stations and will intersect with several other existing Metro lines. The estimated cost of the project has increased to ₹22,862 crore, from an initial estimate of about ₹18,000 crore.
Despite the planned construction period of five years, Chief Minister Fadnavis said, “I have insisted that it should be built in three and a half years.”
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PPP model and funding structure
The project has received the nod from the state government through a public-private partnership (PPP). According to the approved plan, 20 per cent of the viability gap funding will be provided by the Centre, and another 20 per cent will be provided by the Maharashtra government, while the remaining 60 per cent will be taken care of by the private concessionaire.
Planning agencies and DPR
As per a report by the Indian Express, the initial plan was that the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and the City and Industrial Development Corporation would jointly implement the project. However, CIDCO will now implement the project in collaboration with a private consortium. CIDCO has already finalised the detailed project report (DPR) in November after obtaining the necessary approvals from the urban development and finance departments.
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Stations and connectivity
Metro Line Eight will have six underground stations and fourteen elevated stations, including the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport Terminal 2, Kurla, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), Vashi, Nerul, Seawoods, and two stations at Navi Mumbai International Airport. The line will be able to connect with at least six other Metro lines, suburban rail systems, bus stations, and LTT, allowing commuters to reach either airport using a single Metro line.
According to a report by the Hindustan Times, the expected daily passenger volume is projected to reach 1.03 million by 2031. The Metro is expected to significantly shorten the distance between the two airports, which currently takes 70 to 90 minutes by road. It will offer passengers, airline staff, and cargo carriers a faster and more reliable alternative.
