CIDCO Finalising DPR for Airport Express Metro Line
The City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) is in the final stages of completing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the much-awaited Airport Express Line Metro, a game-changer in the region’s public transport system. Once operational, this metro corridor will seamlessly connect the soon-to-be-operational Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) with Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), dramatically improving travel efficiency for passengers and enhancing connectivity across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
The proposed Airport Express Line is an ambitious project that will span a total length of 34 kilometres, comprising both elevated and underground sections. The elevated tracks will cover 25.8 km, while the underground stretch will account for 8.2 km. The metro route will feature 20 stations in total, including 14 elevated stops and six underground ones. Once completed, the metro line is expected to handle a staggering 22.7 lakh daily commuters, with a Peak Hour Peak Direction Traffic (PHPDT) of 37,000 passengers. Designed to address Mumbai’s pressing need for improved east-west connectivity, this metro line will integrate seamlessly with Mumbai’s existing metro and suburban rail networks, as well as key bus terminals. The line is poised to significantly improve access to crucial economic zones, commercial hubs, and institutional areas, fostering better regional integration across the MMR.
At the event marking the first commercial flight landing at NMIA on 29 December 2024, CIDCO Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Vijay Singhal, underscored the importance of this metro project. Singhal reiterated the corporation’s commitment to ensuring smooth inter-airport connectivity, emphasising how the Airport Express Metro would offer a seamless travel experience for passengers transitioning between the two airports. With an estimated cost of ₹15,000 crore, the metro line will feature trains operating at 15-minute intervals, providing fast and reliable connectivity between key locations along the route. The project is a collaborative venture between CIDCO and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). The MMRDA, in partnership with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), will be responsible for constructing the 11.1 km stretch from CSMIA to Mankhurd, while CIDCO will extend the line from Mankhurd to NMIA.
This transformative project aims to alleviate traffic congestion, reduce travel times, and provide a boost to the region’s economy by enhancing accessibility to crucial areas. As the route alignment nears finalisation and construction activities are expected to commence soon, the Airport Express Metro promises to be a major milestone in the development of the region’s transport infrastructure.
