State Cabinet Clears Key Airport Connectivity Project
The Maharashtra cabinet on Tuesday approved a new metro line connecting Mumbai and Navi Mumbai airports. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the decision after the meeting. The 35-km-long metro corridor will directly link Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport with the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport. Importantly, the approval aims to ease airport-to-airport travel for passengers, airline crew and cargo operators. At present, road travel between the two airports takes 70 to 90 minutes, depending on traffic conditions.
Route Length, Stations and Cost Details
According to the state government, the metro line will span 35 km, including a 9-km underground stretch. The project will have 20 stations and intersect with three other metro routes. As per a release from the Chief Minister’s Office, the estimated project cost stands at ₹22,862 crore. This figure is higher than the earlier estimate of ₹18,000 crore announced previously. The corridor will include six underground stations and 14 elevated stations. Moreover, the government expects daily ridership to reach 10.3 lakh passengers by 2031.
PPP Model and Construction Timeline
The state government has approved the project under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. Under this structure, the Centre and the state will each contribute 20 per cent of the viability gap funding. The remaining 60 per cent will come from the private developer. According to Fadnavis, the metro could take five years to complete. However, he has pushed for completion within three and a half years. CIDCO will implement the project in partnership with a private consortium, similar to the Mumbai Metro Line 1 model.
Connectivity Boost Across Mumbai Metropolitan Region
The proposed Metro Line Eight will significantly strengthen regional connectivity. The corridor will link major hubs such as Kurla, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), Vashi, Nerul and Seawoods. It will also integrate with suburban rail networks, bus terminals and at least six other metro lines. As a result, outstation travellers using LTT will gain direct airport access. The 20 planned stations include Terminal 2 at Mumbai airport and both terminals of Navi Mumbai airport. Overall, the project promises faster, seamless and reliable airport transit across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
