Mumbai–Navi Mumbai Airport Metro Gets Green Signal: Line 8 to Be Built in 3.5 Years

Mumbai: In a significant boost to Mumbai’s transport infrastructure, the Maharashtra government has cleared the long-awaited Metro Line 8, a direct rail link between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) and the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). The decision was taken on Tuesday, January 27, by a Cabinet Sub-Committee headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The proposed metro corridor is expected to dramatically ease airport-to-airport travel and improve connectivity across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The Navi Mumbai International Airport, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 8, commenced commercial flights from December 25, making fast transit between the two airports a pressing requirement.

According to Chief Minister Fadnavis, the estimated cost of Metro Line 8 will range between ₹17,000 crore and ₹18,000 crore. He has directed officials to complete land acquisition within the next six months, stressing that delays at the preliminary stage will not be tolerated. Around 30.7 hectares of land will be required for the project, with acquisition costs pegged at approximately ₹388 crore.

The metro line will span nearly 35 kilometres, of which 9 kilometres will run underground. The project includes 25 stations, featuring six underground stations and fourteen elevated stations, along with key at-grade infrastructure. Once operational, the corridor is expected to sharply cut travel time between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai’s aviation hubs.

Highlighting the strategic importance of the alignment, CM Fadnavis said the metro will also link major rail nodes, including Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (Kurla). “Two major railway junctions will be connected, and Metro Line 8 will have interchanges with three other metro lines, creating a seamless transport network,” he said.

The funding model for the project will follow a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) structure. As per the plan, 20% equity will come from the central government, 20% from the state government in the form of Viability Gap Funding (VGF), while the remaining 60% will be invested by private operators.

Although the project was initially planned with a five-year timeline, the Chief Minister expressed confidence in faster execution. “We will try to complete this five-year project in three and a half years,” he said, adding that all statutory and environmental clearances must be secured before construction begins.