The Maharashtra government is gearing up to enhance travel efficiency between Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) and the forthcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). This multi-crore infrastructure initiative aims to cut down the travel time between the two airports by an hour, backed by an estimated investment of around ₹23,000 crore.
Mumbai is already enjoying the benefits of its newly opened Metro Line 3 (Aqua Line). Now, the city is set to take further steps in bolstering connectivity with plans for a direct metro connection linking CSMIA and NMIA, as reported by the Times of India.
The proposed metro line is anticipated to shorten the 70 to 90-minute road journey between the airports to just 30 minutes. The eagerly awaited NMIA is projected to begin operations by December 25, 2025. Although the airport is modern and ready for travelers, it currently lacks a comprehensive mass transit system.
Also read | Photos of Navi Mumbai International Airport emerge ahead of the Sept 30 inauguration
The planned Metro Line 8, often referred to as the Gold Line, will encompass approximately 34.89 kilometers, acting as the rapid transit link between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai airports.
With 20 stations—comprising six underground and 14 elevated—it will cover essential areas and serve as the backbone of a dual-airport system for the expanding Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
The line will interface with at least six other metro lines, suburban rail, bus terminals, and the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT). Important stops include Phoenix Mall, SG Barve Marg, Kurla, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), Garodia Nagar, Baiganwadi, Mankhurd, Vashi, Sanpada, Juinagar, LP Junction, Nerul 1, Nerul 2, Seawoods, Apollo Hospital, Sagar Sangam, and Targhar, leading to Navi Mumbai International Airport West and eventually Navi Mumbai International Airport Terminal 2.
Also read | AI Terminals, Lotus Design, and more: 10 features that make Navi Mumbai International Airport unique
Metro Line 8 is projected to accommodate 1.03 million passengers daily by 2031, according to Times Now, which reported that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Metro Line 8 has already been submitted to the Maharashtra state government by the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited. CIDCO will oversee the project alongside a private entity or consortium under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.
(Edited by : Jerome Anthony)
First Published: Nov 21, 2025 5:23 PM IST
