Cidco Finalises Plan for Metro Line Connecting Mumbai and Navi Mumbai Airports

The City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) is nearing the final stages of preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Metro Line 8, a transformative infrastructure project designed to link Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) with the under-construction Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA).

This strategic metro corridor, projected to span 34.9 kilometres, aims to establish a fast, multimodal transit route between two of the most important aviation hubs in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). With an estimated investment of ₹20,000 crore, the project will be undertaken under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, ensuring both efficiency in execution and the infusion of private sector innovation. Cidco officials have confirmed that once the DPR is submitted to the Maharashtra government, tenders will be issued, and the bidding process is expected to be wrapped up by the end of 2025. If the timeline proceeds as anticipated, the metro line could be operational by 2029.

Metro Line 8, also known as the ‘Gold Line’, is being positioned as a critical enabler of seamless east-west urban connectivity. The line will begin at Terminal 2 of CSMIA and run underground up to Chheda Nagar, after which it will switch to an elevated alignment that travels along the Sion-Panvel Highway until it reaches NMIA. This revised alignment replaces the earlier proposed route via Palm Beach Road, and reflects a more integrated planning approach focused on reducing land acquisition impacts and improving multimodal linkages. Officials from Cidco emphasised that the alignment is crafted to maximise connectivity across the region, with direct integration points at key transport hubs including Kurla Station and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT). This will ensure that the metro corridor is not just an airport-to-airport connector, but a vital spine connecting suburban railway systems, long-distance trains, and multiple metro lines within Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.

Once operational, the Gold Line will offer interchange options with at least seven existing or planned metro corridors in the MMR. These multimodal interchanges are expected to significantly reduce the reliance on road-based transport, cutting congestion along high-traffic arterial roads such as the Eastern Express Highway and the Sion-Panvel Expressway. Urban mobility experts have noted that this corridor could play a defining role in the future of sustainable commuting in the region, especially in reducing vehicular emissions and advancing low-carbon transport options. The corridor is also strategically designed to serve high-density residential and commercial areas including Mankhurd, Vashi, Nerul, and Belapur. According to infrastructure planners, this ensures that the benefits of the project extend beyond air travellers to include a large cross-section of urban residents and daily commuters. The proposed metro depot at Navi Mumbai will add to the operational efficiency and maintenance infrastructure required to support the corridor’s long-term functioning.

Cidco officials stressed that the project’s phased planning is mindful of environmental and urban sustainability benchmarks. By replacing long car rides and congestion-prone road travel with electric-powered mass transit, Metro Line 8 is expected to contribute meaningfully to the region’s climate targets and commitments under India’s urban decarbonisation goals. Transport analysts believe that Metro Line 8 could become a template for other airport-to-airport and inter-city metro links across India, especially in fast-growing urban agglomerations. Its integration with existing transport networks demonstrates a shift from piecemeal infrastructure to holistic systems thinking in Indian urban planning.

While the project timeline currently stretches to 2029, state officials remain optimistic about accelerating the execution process through strong coordination between urban planning authorities, private concessionaires, and central government nodal bodies. The upcoming submission of the DPR is being closely watched by industry stakeholders, as it will determine the project’s final scope, phasing, and financing structure. The successful implementation of this corridor will not only be a game-changer for airport transit but will also mark a significant leap in the MMR’s journey towards a more connected, inclusive, and low-carbon urban future.

Cidco Finalises Plan for Metro Line Connecting Mumbai and Navi Mumbai Airports