A new metro corridor will soon connect Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to the upcoming Navi Mumbai airport. At an estimated cost of Rs 15,000 crore, the upcoming Airport Express Line spanning 35 km will be able to accommodate a daily ridership of 9 lakh passengers.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) have collaborated to build a new metro corridor that will connect the Mumbai and Navi Mumbai airports.
Metro Line 8 will be built by the MMRDA from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to Mankhurd (11.1 km) through the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). The line from Mankhurd to Navi Mumbai airport will be extended by CIDCO.
This metro line has been on the MMRDA’s master plan since 2014. At present, there is no rapid mass transport system (MRTS) connecting the two airports. However, the new metro corridor will change that, making it easier and more convenient for travellers to travel between the two airports.
Partially Underground on the Mumbai Side
As per the authorities, the metro line connecting Mumbai and Navi Mumbai airports will have an underground segment in Mumbai. The Andheri to Eastern Express Highway stretch is expected to be constructed below ground, while the line will be elevated from Ghatkopar to Mankhurd via the Ghatkopar-Mankhurd link road.
Fast and Convenient Travel for Commuters
Navi Mumbai Airport is scheduled to commence commercial operations in 2025. With the new metro corridor in place, commuters will have a fast and convenient way to travel between the two airports. Two development agencies, MMRDA and CIDCO, are working on this project to make it a reality.
This new metro corridor will be a major step forward in Mumbai’s public transportation system, making it easier and more convenient for commuters to travel between the two airports. The Airport Express Line is expected to benefit lakhs of people daily, improving their daily commute and making it more efficient.