Navi Mumbai Airport metro line gains momentum

Construction work on the Navi Mumbai International Airport is progressing rapidly, and plans for the Airport Express Line, which will connect Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to the upcoming Navi Mumbai airport, are also underway. The proposed 35 km-long Metro line will be developed by two agencies in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Cidco and MMRDA. Cidco will oversee the project's execution in the Navi Mumbai area, while MMRDA will manage the project in Mumbai.

The proposed Metro 8 corridor, which has been part of MMRDA's Metro Master Plan, will serve as a critical link between the two airports, and currently, there is no mass rapid transport system (MRTS) connecting them. The line will be built at a cost of ₹15,000 crore, with an expected daily passenger footfall of nine lakhs. The project is scheduled to start shortly and will be completed in time for the commercial operations at the Navi Mumbai Airport, which are expected to begin in 2025.

The Metro 8 corridor will be underground between Andheri and the Eastern Express Highway at Ghatkopar, and from there, it will take an elevated route via the Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link Road to Mankhurd. The number of services per hour will be low on this line, but this is expected to be sufficient, considering the timings of flights. Once completed, the Airport Express Line will provide a much-needed boost to the region's connectivity and accessibility, facilitating smooth travel for passengers between the two airports.