All in 30-mins: The game changer airport-to-airport Metro Mumbai has been waiting for

The proposed Metro Line 8, or Gold Line, will have 20 stations along its route, providing a direct, rapid transit link between Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) and the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA).

A dedicated high-speed connection between the Mumbai and Navi Mumbai international airports has become essential as the two hubs are expected to function as a twin-airport system serving the rapidly expanding Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

Project worth Rs 23,000 crore, 35-km corridor

With NMIA set to handle significant passenger traffic, seamless movement between the two airports will be crucial for transit flyers, airline crew, cargo operators and outstation travellers using LTT or other rail terminals. Road travel between the points where the airports are located currently takes over 70–90 minutes, depending on traffic.

The Maharashtra Government has already approved the broad contours of the 35-km corridor, earlier planned jointly by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited, which will now be constructed through a public-private partnership model by CIDCO in association with a private consortium.

CIDCO has submitted the detailed project report (DPR) to the state government after securing clearances from both the urban development and finance departments.

According to the DPR, the 34.89-km corridor is estimated to cost around Rs 23,000 crore. CIDCO has proposed 20 per cent viability gap funding (VGF) from the Centre and the state government, with the remaining investment to come from the private build-operate-transfer (BOT) partner, similar to the model used for Mumbai Metro Line 1.

The 20 stations planned along the Metro Line Eight corridor are Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport Terminal 2, Phoenix Mall, SG Barve Marg, Kurla, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus LTT, Garodia Nagar, Baiganwadi, Mankhurd, Vashi, Sanpada, Juinagar, LP Junction LP, Nerul 1, Nerul 2, Seawoods, Apollo Hospital, Sagar Sangam, Targhar, Navi Mumbai International Airport West and Navi Mumbai International Airport Terminal 2.

The project includes six underground and 14 elevated stations with a daily ridership projected to touch 10.3 lakh passengers by 2031. The corridor will connect with at least six other Metro lines, suburban rail networks, bus terminals, and the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), enabling outstation travellers to access both airports via a single Metro line directly.

The tendering process of the said metro, however, is yet to commence.

CSMIA ↔ NMIA: distance and travel time

• Current distance by road
• 38-40 km between Mumbai’s CSMIA and Navi Mumbai’s NMIA
• Current road travel
• 75–120 minutes (can extend beyond 2 hours in heavy traffic)
• Future metro travel (Metro Line 8):
• ~30 minutes end-to-end

Why it matters

* Mumbai’s two airports will operate as a twin-airport system

* Essential for transit flyers, airline crew, cargo movement

* Direct access for outstation travellers using LTT and other major rail hubs

* Ensures seamless airport-to-airport transfers across the MMR

Project highlights

* Cost: Rs 23,000 crore

* Length: 34.89 km

* Stations: 20 total — 6 underground, 14 elevated

* Daily Ridership (2031): 10.3 lakh

* Model: PPP + BOT with 20% VGF each from Centre & State

* Integrates with 6 Metro lines, suburban rail and major bus terminals

Proposed stations (Metro Line 8/Gold Line)

CSMIA T2 • Phoenix Mall • SG Barve Marg • Kurla • LTT • Garodia Nagar • Baiganwadi • Mankhurd • Vashi • Sanpada • Juinagar • LP Junction • Nerul 1 • Nerul 2 • Seawoods • Apollo Hospital • Sagar Sangam • Targhar • NMIA West • NMIA T2

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