The much-anticipated Metro Line 8, an ambitious ₹20,000 crore urban transit project, is nearing a crucial milestone, with the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) preparing to float tenders once the Detailed Project Report (DPR) is finalised.
Spanning 34.9 km, the corridor—also known as the Gold Line—will seamlessly connect Mumbai’s two international gateways: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) and the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). Designed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, Metro Line 8 will mark a significant advancement in urban transport for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), becoming only the second corridor in the city to follow this funding structure after Metro Line 1. The project is targeted for commissioning by 2029, with the tendering process expected to conclude within the year, according to officials overseeing infrastructure planning in the region.
Starting underground at Terminal 2 of CSMIA, the alignment will remain subterranean until Chheda Nagar before transitioning to an elevated viaduct along the Sion-Panvel Highway. This revision replaces the earlier proposed alignment via Palm Beach Road, offering a more feasible and efficient engineering solution to navigate Mumbai’s dense urban fabric. The new corridor has been planned to integrate multiple transit nodes in the city, passing through critical hubs such as Kurla, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), Mankhurd, Vashi, Nerul, and Belapur. Officials involved in the planning process highlight that the metro line will not only link two airports but also serve major residential and commercial zones, thereby enhancing multimodal connectivity between metro lines, suburban rail, and long-distance trains.
Experts view Metro Line 8 as a game-changer in reducing reliance on personal vehicles and road-based commuting, which are major contributors to traffic congestion and vehicular emissions in Mumbai. With an estimated daily ridership of 9 lakh passengers, the corridor is expected to significantly relieve pressure on key arterial roads such as the Eastern Expressway and Sion-Panvel Highway. Planners have prioritised sustainable urban development in the corridor’s blueprint. By providing faster, reliable, and electric public mobility between the city’s eastern and western corridors, the line directly contributes to climate goals and decarbonisation targets outlined in national and regional transport strategies. Metro Line 8 also plays a vital role in shaping equitable cities by providing affordable access to employment centres, transit nodes, and public services.
The Gold Line will feature strategic interchange points with seven existing and planned metro corridors across the MMR. These interchanges are expected to redefine commuter experience, offering seamless transfers and slashing total journey times. Once operational, Metro Line 8 will support airport transfers with travel times significantly lower than those offered by conventional road-based options, making it a critical infrastructure piece for a region managing growing air traffic. Moreover, having integrated metro access to both airports is projected to enhance Mumbai’s global competitiveness and attract higher investments in the logistics, aviation, and tourism sectors.
Infrastructure officials point out that such inter-airport metro connectivity is rare even among global megacities. With the addition of Metro Line 8, Mumbai will join a select group of metropolitan regions that offer rapid, rail-based airport transfers across major aviation hubs. The project is seen as a pivotal enabler in MMR’s broader urban vision, reinforcing the city’s aspirations of achieving a $5 trillion economy. The focus on sustainable transport aligns with India’s commitments to reduce its urban carbon footprint and embrace eco-friendly infrastructure solutions.
By anchoring key economic clusters across Thane, Mumbai, and Navi Mumbai, Metro Line 8 is expected to unlock development potential along the corridor, support real estate activity, and catalyse equitable growth across the region. Officials are confident that, with efficient execution and public-private collaboration, the project will redefine urban mobility benchmarks in India. As the final DPR nears submission and tendering approaches, Metro Line 8 continues to draw attention for its scale, ambition, and transformative potential—promising not just improved transit, but a more sustainable and connected future for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Metro Line 8 Set to Bridge Mumbai Twin Airports with High-Speed Connectivity
