Authorities in Maharashtra are preparing to launch a dedicated water taxi service between South Mumbai and the under-construction Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA).
The high-speed electric ferry, expected to depart from a newly developed jetty at Radio Club in Colaba, will offer a direct, low-emission transit option—reducing travel time to approximately 40 minutes. The water-based commute marks a significant shift in how cities approach airport access, particularly in congested metropolitan zones. At present, a road journey between Colaba and the NMIA site via the newly opened Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) spans roughly 60 to 75 minutes, depending on traffic conditions. With the water taxi shaving off nearly half an hour, officials say the initiative not only introduces time savings but also strengthens the push for greener, multi-modal public transport.
The plan was recently discussed in a high-level meeting involving officials from the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) and the state’s ports department. At the heart of the proposal lies a coordinated effort to integrate the upcoming airport with road, rail, metro, and maritime links—part of a broader vision to make the Navi Mumbai aerotropolis a model for future-ready infrastructure. According to transport officials, the state maritime authority will oversee the development of a jetty near the airport, providing seamless docking access for the electric taxis. The marine terminal, to be built adjacent to the airport site, is expected to facilitate passenger movement without the need for cumbersome road transfers at the end of the journey.
The electric water taxis to be deployed will operate with minimal noise and zero tailpipe emissions, aligning with India’s net-zero ambitions and Mumbai’s own climate adaptation roadmap. While final approvals are still under process, stakeholders are confident the plan will gain swift momentum given its potential to decongest critical transport corridors and enhance commuter convenience. Transport experts and urban planners have welcomed the move, calling it a bold step in reclaiming Mumbai’s underutilised coastline for public mobility. Mumbai’s expansive waterfront, long dominated by private boats and restricted ferries, has remained largely absent from its mass transport blueprint. The proposed airport water taxi could serve as a pilot project for a larger water-based transit network that connects key commercial and residential nodes across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
The potential benefits extend beyond faster airport access. By diverting a portion of traffic away from heavily congested arterial roads and bridges, the water taxi service could help reduce vehicle emissions, lower fuel consumption, and curb the environmental cost of excessive road transport. This becomes particularly relevant as Mumbai, which ranks among the most congested cities in the world, battles worsening air quality and rising carbon footprints. Officials have stressed that the project will be developed with a strong emphasis on safety, resilience, and integration. The water taxis are expected to be equipped with GPS systems, climate control, and solar-charging capabilities, making them not only faster but also more technologically advanced than conventional ferry systems. Ticketing is likely to be integrated with digital transit cards or mobile apps for ease of use.
The construction of the jetty at Radio Club in Colaba is expected to be fast-tracked, with design approvals and environmental clearances forming the next phase. The Maharashtra Maritime Board, tasked with executing marine infrastructure, will also coordinate with airport planners to ensure alignment with NMIA’s passenger handling systems and baggage logistics. The Navi Mumbai International Airport, once completed, is projected to handle 90 million passengers annually and will function as a major aviation hub for western India. Seamless connectivity to this airport has become a key objective not only for urban planners but also for investors and real estate developers banking on the airport’s spillover economic impact.
However, urban mobility advocates caution that successful implementation will depend on efficient service scheduling, last-mile integration, and affordability. They argue that water transport must be positioned as a viable public option—not a premium or exclusive service. “If the water taxi becomes a high-cost luxury option, it will defeat its purpose as a sustainable mobility solution,” an expert in maritime transit noted. From a governance perspective, the initiative signals a rare instance of inter-agency cooperation—between port authorities, airport planners, and urban infrastructure bodies. The state government has maintained that it will facilitate all clearances needed to ensure timely rollout of the service, recognising the water taxi as a cornerstone of multi-modal access to the airport.
For Mumbai, where road infrastructure is burdened and space for expansion is limited, tapping into water transit offers an opportunity to decentralise commuter routes and reduce surface-level pressure. It’s a model that has worked in global cities from Sydney to Istanbul, and Mumbai could well be on its way to joining that list—provided the execution remains citizen-centric. As climate change amplifies the urgency for low-carbon, efficient urban systems, projects like the Mumbai-Navi Mumbai water taxi may emerge not only as functional interventions but also as symbols of what modern Indian cities can aspire to—resilient, inclusive, and connected by more than just roads.
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