The detailed project report (DPR) for the much-awaited Airport Express Line Metro has been “almost finalised” by the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO). This new metro route would improve commuter convenience and connectivity by connecting the current Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) with the soon-to-be Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA).
According to people familiar with the project, the proposed metro line will be 34 km long overall, with 8.2 km underground and 25.8 km of elevated rails. There will be 20 stations along the route, including six underground and 14 elevated stops. The metro is expected to carry 22.7 lakh people daily by 2061, with 37,000 commuters experiencing Peak Hour Peak Direction Traffic (PHPDT).
The new metro corridor, which is intended to enhance east-west connectivity, would be seamlessly integrated with Mumbai’s current suburban and metro rail networks as well as important bus hubs. The goal of this alignment is to improve access to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region’s (MMR) key economic zones, institutional regions, and developing commercial hubs.
On December 29, 2024, CIDCO Vice Chairman and Managing Director Vijay Singhal reaffirmed the company’s commitment to a seamless inter-airport connection at a historic occasion commemorating the first commercial flight to land at NMIA. Singhal emphasised the importance of the Airport Express Line Metro in providing travellers with a smooth journey.
Trains would connect key locations along the line at 15-minute intervals as part of the project, which is expected to cost Rs 150 billion. CIDCO and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) are working together on the ambitious metro line. CIDCO will extend the line from Mankhurd to NMIA, while MMRDA, in collaboration with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), will oversee the building of the 11.1-kilometer segment from CSMIA to Mankhurd.
According to officials, the Airport Express Line Metro will be a game-changer, cutting down on travel time, easing traffic, and stimulating the economy between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. An important milestone in the development of the region’s transport infrastructure is anticipated to be reached shortly with the completion of the route alignment and the start of construction.
Source: Construction World
