The Maharashtra government has approved the construction of Metro Line 8 (Gold Line) to establish a direct connection between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) and Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). This project will be executed under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.
The Urban Development Department issued an official government resolution (GR) on Monday to formalize this decision. Currently, no mass rapid transit system (MRTS) connects the two airports, and Metro Line 8 is part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s (MMRDA) Metro Master Plan designed to bridge this gap.
This will be Mumbai’s second Metro project under the PPP model, following the Metro Line 1 (Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar) that has been operational since 2014. The Metro Line 8 project, estimated at ₹15,000 crores, is projected to serve approximately 9 lakh passengers daily.
As per the GR, the majority of the corridor will pass through Navi Mumbai. CIDCO, which is responsible for developing NMIA, has been tasked with preparing the detailed project report (DPR) for the Metro line. CIDCO will coordinate with relevant stakeholders and adhere to standard procedures to secure the necessary approvals.
The project aims to improve connectivity between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, significantly reduce travel time, and meet the increasing passenger demand at both airports. During a high-level meeting held in May 2024, the chief secretary stressed the importance of having a continuous Metro corridor for better operational efficiency.
MMRDA will provide feasibility and related reports to CIDCO, which will prepare the DPR for government approval. The proposed 35-kilometer route will feature both underground and elevated sections. The Metro will run underground from Andheri to the Eastern Express Highway at Ghatkopar and then transition to an elevated track along the Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link Road until Mankhurd. Once operational, Metro Line 8 is expected to significantly ease traffic congestion and improve connectivity in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
It is expected that Metro Line 8 will be completed in 6 years.
