Mumbai-Navi Mumbai Airport Metro Approved: Connecting Two Major Airports in 3.5 Years

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced the approval of a new metro line connecting Mumbai and Navi Mumbai airports. The 35 km-long line received state cabinet approval on the same day, marking a significant step towards enhancing connectivity between the two major airports.

According to Fadnavis, the metro will be 35 km long, with a 9 km underground stretch. The estimated cost for the project, which includes 20 stations and intersections with three other metro routes, is approximately ₹22,862 crore. This is slightly higher than the earlier estimate of ₹18,000 crore mentioned by Fadnavis during the announcement.

The state government has given its nod to build the metro on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, with the state and the center each contributing 20 percent of the viability gap funding. The remaining 60 percent is expected to be brought in by the private party building the metro. Fadnavis emphasized the importance of completing the project within three and a half years, despite the initial estimate of five years.

The seamless movement between Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport and the newly operational Navi Mumbai International Airport will be crucial for transit flyers, airline crew, cargo operators, and outstation travelers using LTT or other rail terminals. Currently, road travel between the airports takes 70–90 minutes, depending on traffic.

The project was initially planned jointly by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (CIDCO). However, it will now be constructed through a public-private partnership model by CIDCO in association with a private consortium. CIDCO submitted the detailed project report (DPR) to the state government in November after securing clearances from both the urban development and finance departments.

The 34.89-km corridor is proposed with a 20 percent viability gap funding (VGF) from the Center and the state government, with the remaining investment to come from the private build-operate-transfer (BOT) partner, similar to the model used for Mumbai Metro Line 1.

The 20 stations planned along the Metro Line Eight corridor are: - Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport Terminal 2 - Phoenix Mall - SG Barve Marg - Kurla - Lokmanya Tilak Terminus LTT - Garodia Nagar - Baiganwadi - Mankhurd - Vashi - Sanpada - Juinagar - LP Junction LP - Nerul 1 - Nerul 2 - Seawoods - Apollo Hospital - Sagar Sangam - Targhar - Navi Mumbai International Airport West - Navi Mumbai International Airport Terminal 2

The project includes six underground and 14 elevated stations, with a daily ridership projected to touch 10.3 lakh passengers by 2031. The corridor will connect with at least six other Metro lines, suburban rail networks, bus terminals, and the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), enabling outstation travelers to access both airports via a single Metro line directly.

This new metro line is expected to significantly reduce travel time and enhance the overall connectivity and convenience for commuters and travelers in the Mumbai-Navi Mumbai region.