News Brief
Gold Line Metro 8: Fadnavis Government Set To Expedite Rs 15,000 Crore Project To Enhance Connectivity Between Mumbai-Navi Mumbai Airports
Navi Mumbai Metro line (Maha Metro)
The Gold Line, also known as Metro 8, connecting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport, is back in focus as the new government plans to decide on the executing agency for this crucial infrastructure project.
Currently, no mass rapid transport system (MRTS) links the two airports, and the Metro 8 corridor, envisioned as part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) Metro Master Plan, is intended to bridge this gap.
The project has been a subject of deliberations ahead of the assembly elections to determine which agency would handle its execution, as the route spans both Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
While the MMRDA and the state government have supported the execution of the project by the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) through the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (Maha Metro), the then Chief Minister Eknath Shinde preferred that the MMRDA take charge of the 35-kilometer corridor.
"The then chief secretary and MMRDA were inclined towards Cidco executing the project through Maha Metro, as the majority of the route falls within Navi Mumbai," a state government official stated.
With the Navi Mumbai International Airport set to open next year, the newly-formed government under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is now expected to expedite the Metro 8 project.
The metro line, estimated at Rs 15,000 crore, is designed to accommodate a daily ridership of nine lakh passengers, which underscores its importance for both Mumbai and Navi Mumbai’s infrastructure.
The final decision on the executing agency is crucial to ensure timely completion of the project, especially with the Navi Mumbai airport's impending inauguration.
