Mumbai–Navi Mumbai Airport Metro Gets Green Light

Author: Ajjay Bhagyakar | Published by: Griha Realty

Source: Hindustan Times

 Source: Hindustan Times

In a major boost for Maharashtra’s infrastructure, the Mumbai–Navi Mumbai Airport Metro project has received official approval from the Maharashtra Cabinet Infrastructure Committee, marking a transformational leap in connectivity across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

The ambitious 35-kilometre Metro Line 8, popularly dubbed the “Gold Line,” will link Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) with the newly operational Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) — significantly cutting travel time between the two air hubs to just 30 minutes.

Project Highlights ( Mumbai–Navi Mumbai Airport Metro Gets Green Light )

• 📍 Total Length: ~35 km

• 🚇 Underground Section: ~9.25 km (from CSMIA Terminal 2 to Ghatkopar East)

• 🌉 Elevated Section: ~24.6 km (Ghatkopar West to Navi Mumbai Airport Terminal 2)

• 🚉 Stations: 20 (including 6 underground + 14 elevated)

• 💰 Estimated Cost: ₹22,862 crore (₹18,000 crore was earlier quoted)

• 🏗️ Land Acquisition: ~30.7 hectares

• ⏱️ Timeline: Targeted completion within 3 to 3.5 years under a PPP model

• 👥 Ridership: Estimated ~10 lakh passengers daily by 2031

Funding will follow a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) approach, with the State & Central governments contributing viability gap funding, and the balance funded by private partners.

Game Changer for Connectivity

Once operational, Metro Line 8 will establish a direct, uninterrupted rapid transit link not just between the two airports but also with major transit points across the region. It will integrate seamlessly with the existing suburban rail network, other metro lines, and major bus terminals — helping passengers and daily commuters avoid lengthy road journeys that currently take 70–90 minutes.

For travellers, airline staff, cargo services, and daily commuters alike, this new corridor promises faster, more reliable, and congestion-free transit across the MMR.

What This Means for the Region

• ✈️ Boosts airport accessibility and regional air traffic efficiency

• 🏙️ Enhances last-mile connectivity to Navi Mumbai International Airport

• 🚄 Supports economic growth and commuter convenience

• 📈 Advances MMR’s infrastructure landscape towards global standards

The state government has directed authorities to complete land acquisition within six months, after which construction is expected to begin promptly. Mumbai–Navi Mumbai Airport Metro Gets Green Light.