Maharashtra Cabinet Approves Mega Metro Project Linking Mumbai and Navi Mumbai Airports

The Maharashtra Cabinet Infrastructure Committee has approved a significant 35-km Metro project to connect the Mumbai and Navi Mumbai international airports. The project, estimated to cost more than Rs 22,000 crore, aims to enhance connectivity and reduce travel time between the two major airports, which are vital for the region's economic growth and development.

The corridor will have 20 stations, including six underground and 14 elevated stations. Land acquisition for the project, covering 30.7 hectares, is expected to cost Rs 388 crore, as stated in a release from the Chief Minister's Office.

The infrastructure committee, a high-powered ministerial body, approved the 35-km Metro Line 8 project, which is estimated to cost Rs 22,862 crore. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed that all land acquisition and approvals for the Metro project, from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport to Navi Mumbai International Airport, be completed within six months, and the construction be finished within three years of the approvals.

Of the total 35-km Metro line, 9.25 km will be underground, extending from Mumbai Airport Terminal 2 to Ghatkopar East. The remaining 24.63 km will be an elevated section, stretching from Ghatkopar West to Navi Mumbai Airport Terminal 2.

Fadnavis also instructed the concerned departments to expedite the extension of the Samruddhi Expressway on the Nagpur-Gondia and Bhandara-Gadchiroli routes to ensure that projects do not get delayed. This move is expected to boost connectivity and economic activities in these regions.

In anticipation of the upcoming Kumbh Mela, the committee also approved the Nashik city ring road project, spanning 66.15 km, at a cost of Rs 3,954 crore. This project will significantly improve traffic flow and reduce congestion in the city during the religious event.

The panel further cleared the upgradation of the 85.76-km Navegaon More-Konsari-Mulchera-Hedri-Surjagad highway in the Gadchiroli district into a four-lane cement concrete road. This upgrade is crucial for facilitating mineral transportation and boosting the local economy.

These infrastructure projects are part of the Maharashtra government's broader efforts to modernize and improve transportation networks, thereby fostering economic development and enhancing the quality of life for residents and travelers alike.